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Wolves Face Crisis: Historic Loss Streak Continues as Team Hits Rock Bottom!

Published 1 month ago4 minute read
Uche Emeka
Uche Emeka
Wolves Face Crisis: Historic Loss Streak Continues as Team Hits Rock Bottom!

Wolverhampton Wanderers' dismal start to the Premier League season continued as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against newly-promoted Leeds United at Molineux, extending their losing streak to five consecutive matches. This result leaves Wolves rooted to the bottom of the table without a single point, making them only the sixth side in history to lose their first five league games.

Despite a promising start in the pouring Midlands rain, Wolves managed to break the deadlock for the first time this season in the Premier League. The trio of summer signings, Tolu Arokodare, Fer Lopez, and Ladislav Krejci combined effectively, with Czech defender Krejci, on loan from Girona, storming through the Leeds defence to dispatch a fine Lopez pass past Karl Darlow in the sixth minute. However, the home side's defence soon collapsed.

Leeds reacted well to going behind, showing the grit required to compete in the top flight. Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened his account for the season and for Leeds after 25 minutes, easily beating Yerson Mosquera in the air to loop a header into the net following a deep cross from Omar Bogle. Anton Stach didn't wait long to give Leeds the advantage, curling a sensational free-kick around the wall and into the top right corner of Jose Sa's net after a foul by Krejci on Calvert-Lewin. Wolves' misery was compounded seven minutes later when Noah Okafor capitalized on an Emmanuel Agbdaou error to roll the ball past Sa with his left boot, making it 3-1 before half-time.

Boos rang out at Molineux as the players trudged off at half-time, prompting manager Vitor Pereira to make three changes, including the return of Jorgen Strand Larsen from injury, replacing Fer Lopez. Hugo Bueno and Marshall Munetsi also entered the fray as Wolves desperately sought a way back into the game. Munetsi came closest, forcing Darlow into two sharp saves in the second half, but Leeds goalkeeper remained in fine form. Daniel Farke's side managed the game brilliantly, drawing clever fouls and holding firm to secure their first league victory since the opening weekend, leaving Leeds in mid-table.

The pressure on Wolves and their manager continues to mount. Fans directed chants at the Chinese investment group Fosun International, stating, "We want Fosun out" and "You sold the team, now sell the club." Paradoxically, only days before this dismal performance, Portuguese boss Vitor Pereira was handed a three-year contract extension. While the optics of this decision may seem strange given the poor run, the club cited a desire for stability, with talks having been ongoing throughout the summer. They aimed to avoid a reactionary announcement based solely on results.

Pereira, who arrived in December, has a lengthy CV with 12 clubs, his longest spell being three years with Shanghai SIPG. He has previously admitted to making wrong decisions in jumping from job to job, but stated that all were designed to get him to the Premier League. In his first 10 months in charge, the club believes he has proven he can handle the demands of the division. The club's executive chairman, Jeff Shi, has also spoken of the need for stability this summer. The appointment of Domineco Teti as director of professional football in June after Matt Hobbs' departure has further strengthened Pereira's position and improved communication within the club, with Teti preferring to be seen as a club appointment rather than solely linked to Pereira.

Despite a previous instance of sacking Gary O'Neil just four months into a new four-year deal, there is no desire for history to repeat itself with Pereira. However, with the worst start to a league season in their history, bottom of the table, and facing a visit to Thomas Frank's Spurs next, the outlook for Wolves remains bleak unless they can swiftly turn their fortunes around.

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