Wolves are reaping the benefits of hiring Vitor Pereira earlier in the season, with plenty of noticeable positive changes.
By beating Bournemouth 1-0 away from home, Wolves gave themselves a fraction of breathing space in the race for Premier League survival.
The victory saw Pereira’s squad move five points above the bottom three but, the Old Gold’s battle is far from won.
On Tuesday night comes another must-win fixture as Wolves host Fulham at Molineux, with the chance to build some form there for the Midlands club.
Dave Edwards applauds Vitor Pereira’s impact on Wolves
While Pereira had no time to reflect on the Bournemouth win, club icon Dave Edwards did delve into what won the game for his former club.
The ex-midfielder spoke highly of the team in his column for Express and Star, where he pinpointed one crucial element of the game at the Vitality.
Edwards commended Wolves’ in-game management on the South Coast following Illia Zabarnyi’s controversial red card, lauding how ‘strategic’ Pereira has made the squad.
“They had already made an impact on the game before Illia Zabarnyi’s red card. But when it did come, that is when you have to really switch on as a Wolves player.
“Pereira’s team needed to be strategic at that point. They needed to keep the ball and limit Bournemouth’s counter-attacking options. They are dangerous with the front four players they have – regardless of the man advantage.
“That is what Wolves did ever so well – that was aided by the fact they scored quickly after the red card.”
Edwards went on to applaud how well the Old Gold shifted their priorities in the game following the red card and Matheus Cunha’s goal, praising the control the visitors had.
“Although it felt nervous in the stadium from a Wolves perspective. When you look at the chances Bournemouth had, there was not too much to be nervous about, even though they would have wanted to get a second goal.”
Even before the Bournemouth win, Edwards had noticed the control Wolves have under Pereira, something that could just ensure Premier League safety for the Old Gold.
Pereira is turning a terrible season around for Wolves
A win against Fulham is necessary before the idea of Premier League survival can be celebrated at Molineux but, the squad are certainly on the right track.
As well as the individual quality on show in the Wolves squad, the manager has implemented a greater level of collective play, something that was missing under Gary O’Neil.
| Manager | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | GF | GA | Pts | PPM |
| Gary O’Neil | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 40 | 9 | 0.56 |
| Vitor Pereira | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 1.30 |
The results are there for all to see, as Wolves are conceding fewer goals, earning more points and simply playing a better standard of football.
Hiring the Portuguese coach was essential but, fans will wonder why it took the board so long to oust O’Neil, who has limited the success of the 2024/25 campaign.