Wolves' Struggles Continue After Defeat to Fulham
“Embarrassing,” “It’s not good enough, and we need to do better. We should be embarrassed, and while they may not want to hear it, we apologize to the fans,” he added, emphasizing the need for improvement. “We are trying our best and must keep going. We have good players, and we need to turn things around quickly.”
Wolves are currently eight points adrift of safety and remain winless after their first ten matches—mirroring last season’s start, which saw them secure their first victory in their 11th game. They have suffered eight losses, accumulated just two points, and are tied for the lowest number of goals scored while possessing the league's weakest defense.
While the club's owners, Fosun, are reluctant to dismiss manager Vitor Pereira, the prospect of relegation looms large if results do not improve.
Overcoming Premier League Odds to Survive
When asked about the team's shortcomings against Fulham, Johnstone candidly stated, “Pretty much everything—I’m being completely honest. It’s difficult to find words. There’s a lot of emotions; it’s very difficult in the dressing room.”
Wolves supporters expressed their frustration towards the players after the final whistle, directing anger at Pereira once again. The defeat showcased a team struggling for survival, marked by conceding an early goal, a red card for Emmanuel Agbadou in the 36th minute, and a comical own goal by Yerson Mosquera.
Pereira acknowledged that while he does not believe the club is in crisis, there is certainly a “crisis of results,” with the display at Craven Cottage raising alarm bells. Historically, no team has survived the Premier League with only two points after ten games; of the last 20 teams that faced this fate, 14 were relegated.
Last season, Wolves had three points after drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace on November 2. Although they managed to survive after replacing Gary O’Neil with Pereira, the current situation appears more dire.
“I don’t have the answer [to how Wolves can survive], but I can say that last season, do you think it was possible for a club like Wolves to win six games in a row?” Pereira remarked. “It’s very difficult, even for the big teams.”
Will Pereira be given the opportunity to rectify the situation? “I’m doing my best, working hard to support my players and the club. I cannot control the time or the confidence the club has in our work,” he stated. “What I can assure is that my staff and I are trying everything—changing the system, adjusting the players—to help the team perform and secure results.”
Despite a spirited performance in a 3-2 loss to Burnley and a closely contested 4-3 defeat to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, the team fell flat against Fulham, making critical errors, including a mistake from Santi Bueno that led to Ryan Sessegnon’s opening goal. Pereira expressed his disappointment at the team's performance, calling it the worst he has experienced during his tenure.
“I felt my team physically was not at the level to face Fulham. Tactically, we made mistakes, and technically we were lacking. We missed many passes and movements, and conceding the first goal made it even more challenging,” he lamented.
Debrief Planned to Find Solutions
Pereira and his players are set to hold a summit, likely on Monday, to discuss the issues faced during the match. The manager prefers not to speak too much immediately after games to avoid miscommunication or saying something regrettable in the heat of the moment. Therefore, discussions will take place at their Compton training base to address their problems.
“We need to have a conversation to understand what happened because we didn’t perform at the necessary level,” Pereira remarked. “I like to listen to the players and understand their feelings on the pitch—tactically, physically, and mentally. I must speak with them outside of the post-game frustration, as it’s impossible to have a meaningful conversation in the dressing room.”
“In the next training session, we will talk, and I will try to understand what was missing on the pitch. We must perform better; we have more potential than what we showed. When results are lacking, as a manager, you seek solutions.”