Wolves take on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup tonight – and it’s a huge night for Vitor Pereira.
Wanderers lost yet again at the weekend, this time against Burnley in the Premier League.
There were scenes of fury after the full-time whistle, as fans in the South Bank let rip at Vitor Pereira and the players who had gone over.
Despite those concerning optics, Pereira retains the backing of the Wolves board for the moment.
A defeat tonight against Chelsea though will give the hierarchy a big decision to make ahead of the game with Fulham at the weekend. Potentially, the quick turnaround may see him stay in position if Wolves do lose to Chelsea.
Ahead of tonight’s game, Molineux News looks back on the only previous occasion Wolves and Chelsea have met in the Carabao Cup.
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When Chelsea ran riot against Wolves in the Carabao Cup in 2012
The last meeting between these two sides in this competition came all the way back in 2012 at Stamford Bridge. So tonight’s game will actually be the first time Wolves and Chelsea have played one another at Molineux in the Carabao Cup.
Wolves will certainly hope to fare better this time around, because that game in 2012 was an utter non-contest.
Chelsea ran out 6-0 winners over Stale Solbakken’s men, with the Blues having six different goalscorers.
Gary Cahill opened the scoring with a back post header from a Juan Mata free-kick, before full-back Ryan Bertrand doubled the lead after just seven minutes.
Juan Mata made it three after exchanging passes with Fernando Torres.
The game was essentially done after that goal, and Wolves came out for the second-half hoping to keep the scoreline respectable and show a bit of pride. That did not happen.
Wolves goalkeeper Dorus De Vries took down Victor Moses in the box, and Oriel Romeu converted the spot-kick.
Wolves were then undone by a set-piece with Mata’s corner headed in by an unmarked Torres.
Moses then completed the rout by heading in Oscar’s cross.
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A chance for Wolves as Enzo Maresca plans to rotate
Wolves will look to fare much better than in the last meeting in this competition, although some fans will fear the worst given how poor the season has gone so far.
That said, Enzo Maresca has said he’ll be rotating against Wolves in order to keep his players fresh.
That potentially points to a team that won’t be full strength, meaning a chance for Pereira to get a result he badly needs.
While he would likely love three points in the Premier League more, he will certainly take dumping Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup and taking Wolves to a quarter-final.