An FA Cup fourth-round tie takes centre stage at Ewood Park on Sunday as Wolves travel to Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
It was a happy first FA Cup tie for Vitor Pereira in the last round as Wolves beat Bristol City at Ashton Gate, with another clash against Championship opposition in store.
Wolves head into their fixture in Lancashire with some newfound confidence. A 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday set the trend for an excellent few days as Matheus Cunha signed a new contract and Nasser Djiga and Marshall Munetsi arrived on deadline day.
Pereira will be keen to continue that momentum when Wolves face off against Blackburn Rovers, perhaps seeing this as an opportunity to go on a cup run.
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Vitor Pereira will name a ‘strong’ Wolves side vs Blackburn
Surprisingly, Chris Sutton has predicted Blackburn Rovers to beat Wolves this weekend, in what would be classed as a mini upset.
His reasoning for tipping a Blackburn victory was foreseeing Pereira naming a weakened lineup. Clearly, Sutton didn’t do his research.
Wolves fielded a side featuring the likes of Joao Gomes, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Emmanuel Agbadou against Bristol City last month.
And ahead of their trip to Ewood Park, Pereira has said he will start a ‘strong’ team once more, sending a clear warning to his opponents.
“We’ll start with a strong team, committed, with some changes in the team,” Pereira said via the E&S. “I will make some changes because I want to show my squad that I trust in everybody and all the players are important to us.
“We cannot prepare two games in advance. I’m preparing the Blackburn game and if I start watching Liverpool, it will be a problem for me. I cannot do it, it is a mistake.
“My target, my focus, my mind, all of me is in the next game. I just think about the next game and we will face a historic club in this country, away.
“We will go there with just one thing in our minds, to win the game and move forward to the next round.”
What Pereira said on potential debuts for Marshall Munetsi and Nasser Djiga
Wolves fans will gain encouragement from Pereira’s comments as it means they will head to Ewood Park knowing a strong team will enter the pitch.
Supporters will also be interested to see whether new signings, Djiga and Munetsi make their debuts in their FA Cup.
Agbadou, who won Wolves Player of the Month for January, made his first appearance for the club in this competition, though Pereira spoke about how ‘difficult’ it is since they’ve only just joined up with the squad.
“It’s difficult because Marshall has worked just once with us and Nasser will have his first training (on Saturday),” Pereira said when asked if they will play in the FA Cup.
“It’s time to understand what we want from them and time for them to be connected with their teammates.”