Vitor Pereira was thoroughly impressed with the way his Wolves side performed in their 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Everton.
The Old Gold overcame West Ham 3-2 in the previous round, but against the Toffees the hosts put in a professional performance.
Wolves dominated possession and dictated the tempo of the game from start to finish.
Marshall Munetsi opened the scoring for the West Midlands outfit in the first half with an accurate finish.
In the second half, Tolu Arokodare surprised Pereira with a composed finish late on to seal the 2-0 win.
The Portuguese manager was quick to make a positive admission about his team’s first-half display and will be hoping they can replicate this level of performance in the Premier League.
Vitor Pereira claims Wolves’ first-half display against Everton was their best performance of the season
Despite the 2-0 victory, Pereira insists his leaders must step up to prevent another relegation battle.
While Everton were weakened, Wolves impressed with their calmness at the back and control in midfield.
As reported by the Express & Star, Pereira hailed Wolves’ first half against Everton as the best football his side has played this season.
He said: “I’m very happy because the first half was maybe the best first half this season. With personality, quality, controlling the game and controlling the pace, creating problems.
“And in the second half the spirit of the team, trying to defend well, to be compact, to create situations on the counter-attack and we score the second goal.”
Pereira deployed a fluid formation, which occasionally shifted into a back five but predominantly operated as a 4-3-3.
This tactical approach nullified Everton’s attacking threats while making Wolves dangerous on the counter-attack.
Pereira must get Wolves performing consistently
Pereira led the South Bank cheers after Wolves’ 2-0 victory over Everton, but he knows replicating that performance is now essential.
This season, his team have been frustratingly inconsistent, with bright spells often fading in the second half.
With upcoming matches against in-form sides like Spurs and Brighton, the team can’t rely on playing in patches, as opponents will punish any lapse in intensity.
Pereira must find a way to get Wolves performing at this level every week to climb out of the relegation zone.
Consistent team selection and a clear identity will be key to achieving this level of performance regularly.