Wolves pulled 12 points clear of the Premier League relegation zone on Saturday – and Jorgen Strand Larsen came in clutch once again.
Vitor Pereira watched his side come from behind to beat Ipswich Town 2-1 at Portman Road, in what was a hugely significant result.
Wolves are now pretty much safe.
12 points clear with seven games to go is almost unassailable, and the players deserve huge credit for finding form like this at the business end of the season.
Wolves can actually start to look up now. 13th is not the far off, with Manchester United sitting just five points above Wolves at the moment.
Certainly, if Jorgen Strand Larsen can continue playing as well as he is, there could be an outside chance.
The Norwegian is really enjoying himself at the moment, and Pereira reckons there’s one major reason why he’s improved so much.
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Vitor Pereira says Marshall Munetsi has been key to Jorgen Strand Larsen thriving
With Matheus Cunha having got a red card against Bournemouth, it was always going to be vital for others to step up.
Strand Larsen – who Troy Deeney felt resembled Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Ipswich – has done that with four goals in his last three games.
He’s been excellent leading the line – but speaking after the game yesterday, Pereira insisted that the work of Marshall Munetsi has been instrumental for the number nine to flourish.
He said: “If you look at the game, do you know why Larsen is playing better? Because of Munetsi. Because Munetsi now is playing close to him, and opens the space for him and helps him to play, and attack the space.
“The markers go with him, and he opens the space. The adaptation (of Strand Larsen) in the Premier League is better. He is getting better. But because now we put a player behind him, creating space, attacking space, helping him in the first and second balls. This is what happens now. That’s why Larsen is doing better.”
Pereira comments about Munetsi and Strand Larsen could be a hint
It was fascinating to hear Pereira talk up Munetsi, and how he’s been vital to the improvements of Strand Larsen recently.
Some fans have been critical of Munetsi due to the chances he has missed since he came to Wolves. Undoubtedly, he should have more than just one goal to his name.
But it is very clear at this point that Pereira is a huge fan of the Zimbabwe international. Pereira recently also hailed Munetsi as a set-piece threat, as well as Emmanuel Agbadou.
The £16 million man (Zimsphere) is someone who occupies players, and his good physical traits make him difficult to nullify. At the very least, the 28-year-old is a handful.
And this helps free up Strand Larsen in the final third, and we have seen this season that when he gets free, there’s a good chance of him scoring.
Cunha will obviously be available now for Wolves’ next game. But with Wolves having form without their talisman, and Munetsi clearly in favour with the manager, it will be so fascinating to see that next team sheet.