Wolves take on Sunderland at 3 PM BST on Saturday, and the Old Gold will be hoping their past history does not repeat against the Black Cats.
The Wanderers are desperate for a win. With the club sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, the overall feeling around the club is negative.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 18 |  BurnleyBurnley | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 4 |
| 19 |  West HamWest Ham | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | -10 | 4 |
| 20 |  WolvesWolves | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 2 |
Relegation is a stark possibility, and if Vitor Pereira wants to stave off the drop, three points are an absolute must at the weekend.
Wolves are underdogs according to the Opta supercomputer, but they’ll be looking to prove the data powerhouse wrong.
Picking up a win away at the Stadium of Light is tough for any team. The vocal home fanbase can make the ground a cauldron, and if any team knows how hard it will be, it is the Old Gold.
Wolves’ away record against Sunderland does not make for good reading
Sunderland, historically, have not been great opponents for Wolves, with the former leading in the head-to-head stats.
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| 29 | 24 | 31 |
In the last meeting between the Old Gold and the Black Cats in 2018, it was the Northern side who came out as 3-0 winners, but it was the Old Gold celebrating.
That fixture was the final game of the season, with Wolves finishing top of the Championship, while Sunderland were relegated to League One.
Seven years on, the two sides will meet in league action once more, but while the Wanderers do not typically do well against Sunderland, their away record vs the Black Cats is even worse.
In the last ten meetings at the Stadium of Light, the Old Gold have only won once. The last victory came in 2011, with Mick McCarthy managing the side to a 3-1 win.
In the remaining games, this matchup has seen three draws and six Sunderland wins.
With the current standings in the Premier League, it has never been more important for Wolves to overcome the odds and historical precedents, and there could be a way to aid that goal.
Sunderland unbeaten at home so far this season; Wolves must adopt new strategy
If history is not concerning enough for Wolves, then the modern precedents certainly will be.
The Old Gold’s opponents on Saturday are yet to lose a game at home this season, highlighting the intense atmosphere that the Stadium of Light can generate.
Dave Edwards believes Wolves can win by being pragmatic, and the former Molineux man is correct.
However, Pereira’s side should also resort to the dark arts tactics to frustrate the crowd. The fanbase of Sunderland will be one of the biggest factors in the weekend’s match, and quietening them down will be key.
Wolves take the least amount of time getting the ball back in play, and perhaps they should do the opposite against the Black Cats.
As football fans, it is not what you want to see, but Wolves are desperate for a win, and they should use whatever tools are necessary to nullify the advantages of their opposition.