Seven games into the Premier League season, Wolves are still searching for their first win under Vítor Pereira. Performances have been spirited in moments, but the same issues keep resurfacing: a lack of composure when leading, individual defensive and goalkeeping errors, and a recurring inability to convert pressure into points. For a club desperate to build stability, this start has been deeply unsettling.
What the numbers show
Beneath the surface, the data paints a worrying picture of underperformance rather than bad luck. The Wolves' defensive metrics are among the worst in the league, indicating a team struggling with concentration and cohesion.
- 1.48 xG conceded per game on average.
- 13 goals conceded from an expected total of 8.85.
These figures highlight a team that is not being carved open repeatedly but is failing to manage key moments. They concede more than they should, suggesting lapses of discipline and structure rather than tactical naivety.
The recent 1-1 draw with Brighton was emblematic of their season so far. After a chaotic own goal gave them the lead, Wolves retreated into a defensive back five formation and invited pressure with half an hour of the game remaining. Pereira was also sent off for kicking a ball into the officials' dugout in the first half.
Late in the second half, after some questionable substitutions, the side's organisation faltered, and they conceded a late goal from a set piece for the second week in a row. It summed up everything wrong with the Molineux club at the moment: hesitation, fragility, and a lack of conviction.
Tactical caution costing control
Under Pereira, Wolves tend to start games with intensity, pressing well and building confidently from the back, especially since the formation has shifted from a 3-4-2-1 to a 4-3-3. Yet whenever they take the lead, a familiar pattern emerges: a switch to a back five, deeper defensive lines, and fewer attacking outlets. The intention is to preserve the result, but it instead just invites the opposition forward.
The Brighton match was a case study in this tactical conservatism. By shifting to protect the lead rather than extend it, Wolves lost momentum and control. The same trend was visible against Spurs and even against Leeds after taking the lead and quickly finding themselves 3-1 down. Pereira’s pragmatism is understandable given the team’s fragile confidence, but it’s clearly costing points.
The Hwang Hee-chan dilemma
One of the most puzzling aspects of Pereira's management has been his reluctance to drop Hwang Hee-chan. The South Korean has been completely out of rhythm for a long time now, struggling for confidence, and despite just two goals in his last 20 appearances, he continues to start regularly.
Pereira has spoken publicly about Hwang’s mental battles and insists his work rate justifies selection. Yet when Wolves are so short of goals, persistence with an out-of-form attacker feels more like stubbornness than a strategic approach. The fans’ frustration is growing not because of the effort, but because of ineffectiveness, and better attacking options, such as Fer López and Rodrigo Gomes, are left on the bench game after game.
There’s no shortage of quality in this Wolves squad, but the team must rediscover focus and belief. Defensive concentration, late-game management, and bolder attacking intent are essential if results are to turn. Pereira’s first win could change everything, but until it comes, the pressure will only intensify.
If Wolves continue to concede soft goals, retreat into defensive shells, and rely on misfiring forwards, the pattern of slow starts may soon be punished, and the club risks being cut adrift from safety.
