Wolves will be desperate to return to winning ways when the Old Gold face Crystal Palace on Tuesday night.
After winning six Premier League games in a row, Wolves have suffered a dip in form, losing their last two fixtures.
Though Vitor Pereira was happy about how his side played against Manchester City, the Wolves manager was less satisfied with the most recent performance when Brighton visited Molineux.
Pereira didn’t like what he saw against Brighton and will be eager to see more from his squad when the West Midlands club travel to Selhurst Park.
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Crystal Palace couldn’t live with Joao Gomes in Wolves draw
Having just won the FA Cup, it’s unclear whether now is a good or bad time to face Palace.
The Eagles are high on confidence but have also spent some time celebrating winning their first ever major trophy, making the upcoming match a difficult one to prepare for.
Pereira will put outside factors aside and ensure his team travel to South London in the best possible condition, with one player holding the key to unlocking the hosts.
When Wolves drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace at Molineux back in November, one star stood out above the rest, and that was Joao Gomes.
| Joao Gomes vs Crystal Palace |
| 1 goal |
| 3 key passes |
| 100% long balls |
| 100% dribbles |
| 11 duel wins |
| 3 fouls drawn |
| 3 tackles |
Andy Thompson lauded how ‘strong’ Gomes was on the ball against Palace on that day, as the Brazilian was the catalyst behind Gary O’Neil’s side collecting a point.
Aside from being a force to be reckoned with when running with the ball, Gomes flexed his strengths in the final third, scoring past Dean Henderson.
The 24-year-old won 11 of his duels against Palace during the contest at Molineux, as the Eagles were unable to get close to his brilliance, something he will need to replicate when the Old Gold travel to the capital.
Gary O’Neil was stunned by Joao Gomes vs Crystal Palace
It wasn’t only Thompson who was stunned by what the midfielder did to Palace earlier in the season.
O’Neil thought Gomes was ‘excellent’ against Palace, as he took the time to laud the Brazil international amid Wolves’ struggles.
If there’s one figure Wolves know they can rely on, it’s Gomes, who is one of the most committed players in Pereira’s squad.
There could be some conversations about the Pitbull in the Crystal Palace dressing room prior to Tuesday night’s showdown, given just how impactful he was during the clash six months ago.