Vitor Pereira has had a record-breaking first season at Wolves, with a peculiar record now in the manager’s sights.
By taking his squad unbeaten for six games, Pereira made Wolves history, a patch of form that has seen the Old Gold rise up the table.
At some moments, it seemed as though Wolves would not vacate 17th place, but now, the West Midlands side sit 13th.
Pereira is guiding Wolves towards eclipsing their 14th-place finish last term under Gary O’Neil ahead of a decisive summer for the manager.
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Wolves are three games away from making Premier League history
Fosun need to back Pereira in the summer transfer window if they are to truly turn Wolves’ fortunes around in the top flight.
The Portuguese coach ensured the script of Wolves’ season wasn’t one of battling relegation, but more one of resurgence, with records being broken frequently.
In the remaining three games of the Premier League campaign, Pereira could watch his Wolves side write their name into the record books, by no choice of their own.
That’s because, if Wolves aren’t awarded a penalty before the end of the season, the Old Gold will become only the 11th side in Premier League history to go an entire campaign without being awarded a spot-kick.
| Teams not to be awarded a Premier League penalty in an entire season |
| Queens Park Rangers in 1994-95 |
| Wimbledon in 1998-99 |
| Southampton in 2000-01 |
| Blackburn Rovers in 2003-04 |
| Tottenham Hotspur in 2004-05 |
| Charlton Athletic in 2004-05 |
| Portsmouth in 2005-06 |
| Tottenham Hotspur in 2012-13 |
| Swansea City in 2012-13 |
| Burnley in 2017-18 |
| Bournemouth in 2022-23 |
The last time such happened was in 2022/23, when Bournemouth became the tenth side to fail to win a penalty in the Premier League.
While Wolves have been involved in penalty controversy this term at the other end of the pitch, they have found no luck at winning a spot-kick…as of yet.
Raul Jimenez was the king of penalties at Wolves
It’s been over a year of Premier League action since Wolves last won a penalty, a chance that Pablo Sarabia converted during the defeat to West Ham.
So far this season, Wolves fans haven’t seen a player walk up to the spot to take a kick, besides the FA Cup penalty shoot-out against Bournemouth.
The shootout against the Cherries was painful as the Old Gold missed two penalties, something that, despite not seeing many penalty kicks, fans aren’t too accustomed to.
When Raul Jimenez was at Wolves, the West Midlands side knew they were in safe hands if a penalty was awarded.
Only three players in Premier League history have a 100% penalty record, with Yaya Toure, Bryan Mbeumo and Jimenez perfect from the spot.
Some will believe that without Jimenez, penalties aren’t as thrilling, which would be a useful way of thinking given Wolves’ drought.