Analysis: Loyalty could make Fosun look foolishpublished at 19:32 GMT 1 November
19:32 GMT 1 November
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves do not want to part company with Vitor Pereira and there is a firm belief they have time to save themselves, yet this season now matches the last, where Wolves did not win any of their opening 10 games under Gary O'Neil.
The former manager clung on for another six games and Wolves recognise they kept faith with him for too long before replacing him with Pereira last December.
It is a mistake owners Fosun want to avoid but their faith in Pereira cannot continue indefinitely while Wolves appear doomed and their patience, however admirable, could ultimately make them look foolish.
Already eight points adrift of safety at the foot of the table, there is no comfort in the club's desire for consistency and stability.
Defeats to newly-promoted trio Leeds, Sunderland and Burnley came before Saturday's limp loss at Craven Cottage, against a side who started the day 17th in the table.
If wins are not coming against those who they could rank as relegation rivals - Sunderland aside after their excellent start - then the question is: when will the victories arrive?
A disastrous defeat against a relegation rival, including a red card and an own goal, made it a nightmare afternoon.
Fulham 3-0 Wolves: What Pereira and Johnstone saidpublished at 17:28 GMT 1 November
17:28 GMT 1 November
Media caption,
Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the defeat: "That might be the worst performance from my team. It was maybe the worst technically, tactically and physically. We suffered. I didn't see my team playing at the level we can play at, the level we showed in the last game.
"I don't know if that was because we didn't recover [well enough]. I changed some players to find that energy. When it was 11v11, it was a mistake when we conceded the goal. After the red card, it was very difficult for us.
"I'm trying to understand it. We need to have a conversation to understand how it's possible to play like we did in the second half of the last game and then play like this today."
On whether he was worried by the performance: "It is difficult because two days ago we played at a different level. We are not showing consistency, this is something that might be mental. To be honest, we were not at our level."
On the fans chanting 'you're getting sacked in the morning' towards him: "I'm not proud of our work today. I don't need anybody to judge my work, I judge my work and I judge myself. I know my team can play at a better level but today it wasn't the case. Everyone must assume responsibility."
On whether he is worried about not being given time to turn things around: "I'm not worried about myself, I'm worried about my team. What we showed today, we need to talk about it. I cannot accept what we did."
Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone also spoke to Premier League Productions about the disappointing performance: "It's just not good enough. We need to do better. We should be embarrassed. They might not want to hear it, but we have to apologise to the fans. We are trying our best, but we have to keep going.
"We have got good players and we just need to turn this around quickly."
On the current mood in the dressing room: "I think it's difficult to find words [to describe it]. There are a lot of emotions. It is very difficult."
On what went wrong in the game: "Pretty much everything. We went down to 10-men early and we conceded early. It's difficult in the Premier League to go a man down and try to get a result. I think pretty much everything went wrong."
Did you know?
Wolves have failed to win any of their opening 10 league games in the past two seasons (D2 L8 this season and D3 L7 in 2024-25), as many times as in their previous 125 campaigns in the top four tiers (1926-27 and 1983-84).
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Burnley v Arsenal" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Chelsea", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Fulham v Wolvespublished at 12:34 GMT 1 November
12:34 GMT 1 November
This is massive, for both teams.
Wolves thumped Fulham here last season, winning 4-1 in one of Gary O'Neil's final games in charge before Vitor Pereira took over - and boy how Pereira could do with a similar result this time too.
It doesn't get much worse for a manager than arguing with your own fans, which is what happened after Wolves lost to Burnley last time out, and Pereira's side are bottom without a league win this season.
Fulham are on an awful run too, suffering four straight defeats. They haven't always played too badly, but you can just sense the confidence sapping out of them.
Wolves' problem is they are conceding too many - currently their average is more than two goals a game - and I don't think you can stay in the Premier League doing that.
Pereira shored things up when he first came in - O'Neil's Wolves conceded 40 from their 16 league games last season before Pereira took charge, then only let in 21 goals in their next 16 under him.
That's what he has to do again, but it is clear they have not replaced the players they sold in the summer with the same quality, and there is no sign he will stop them leaking goals.
This is the sort of game where I actually fancy both teams to lose but I am going to back Fulham to edge it at home.
Fulham v Wolves: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:05 GMT 31 October
19:05 GMT 31 October
Jordan Butler BBC Sport journalist
Winless Wolves travel to struggling Fulham for a massive match at the foot of the table. BBC Sport examines some of the key talking points ahead of Saturday's fixture.
Fulham results 'not good enough'
Fulham's penalty shootout win in the League Cup over Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night helped alleviate a few of the dark clouds starting to gather around Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers have lost four successive league games for only the second time under Marco Silva – the joint-worst run of form in the division - although it is worth noting that three of those were on the road, while the other was a 1-0 defeat to league leaders Arsenal.
Silva's side have mustered just nine goals from their opening nine games and only the bottom three sides have scored fewer. Combine that with their propensity to concede – they've kept just one clean sheet this season – and it's easy to see why results have been lacking.
"The results haven't been good enough for us, even in difficult circumstances and against some difficult opposition as well," said Silva in midweek. "But we have been very, very competitive, even in difficult moments.
"In this moment, the confidence is not something you can buy anywhere. We need all of us even more together, and our fans with the team as well."
A return to the Cottage should provide welcome relief as seven of their eight points have come at home. However, they haven't won any of their last five home Premier League matches against sides starting the day in the relegation zone (D3, L2), a run which includes a defeat to Wolves.
Winless Wolves
Saturday's opponents are one of just two sides in the top seven tiers of English football without a win, along with Stamford in the Southern League Premier Central Division.
It's a case of history repeating itself for Wolves as they failed to win any of their opening 10 games last season (D3, L7) and this weekend they could become the first top-flight side to start consecutive campaigns with a 10-match winless streak.
They ended that barren run in 2024-25 with a 2-0 triumph over Southampton and followed that with a 4-1 win at Saturday's venue of Craven Cottage.
Wolves will also be buoyed by the fact that they've won eight Premier League games against Fulham, drawing six and losing only four. They've only beaten Tottenham and Southampton more in the competition, with nine wins against each.
Head coach Vitor Pereira was subjected to chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" at Molineux on Wednesday, but the heart and spirit displayed by his side in their second-half comeback against Chelsea quelled the toxic atmosphere by the final whistle.
Wolves lost the game 4-3 but they were 3-0 down at half-time and Pereira was upbeat about their chances of climbing off the foot of the table.
"This is maybe one of the best groups of players in my career, with spirit and character, to try to change the situation," said the Portuguese.
"We just need a win to believe and move on. I don't have any doubts that we can do it [stay up] and turn around the situation by the end of the season."
Pereira on Burnley incident, 'fighting' for first win and staying 'united'published at 14:29 GMT 31 October
14:29 GMT 31 October
Millie Sian BBC Sport journalist
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Craven Cottage (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
He addressed the altercation that happened following his side's last-gasp defeat to Burnley: "Jorgen [Strand Larsen] went over to thank the supporters. I felt my players gave everything to win the game, but right at the end committed a mistake to lose it. I went over to explain that we are fighting and fighting, but we must fight together. I understand the frustration because I'm also frustrated."
However, Pereira was pleased to feel "a connection between the supporters and the team again" after being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Chelsea on Wednesday night.
On that team performance against the Blues, he said: "In the second half, we showed that we have quality and ambition and that we are united. We are trying everything to get a win so this is the spirit I want to see, not just for 45 minutes but also for 90 minutes."
Rodrigo Gomes and Matt Doherty will be unavailable for the trip to Craven Cottage after picking up injuries in the midweek fixture.
Wolves cannot concede "easy goals" against Fulham if they want to claim their first Premier League win of the season this weekend. Pereira explained: "If we want to win, we cannot concede goals and we have to score more than our opponent. We are conceding a lot of easy goals at the moment, and that's something we need to correct."
When asked what he would say to supporters ahead of the match, he replied: "I know a way to change the current situation and the answer is to work hard every day. We have to go into the next game against Fulham with ambition. We have to increase our tactical organisation. We need to keep fighting."
Pereira is working with the club's owners to be "connected and united in this difficult moment", as well as "trying to find solutions" to help his players from "7am to 7pm" every day.
He added: "This is the first time in my career that I'm facing this situation, but I'm resilient and I've got confidence in my work and my players. Together we are confident that we can turn this situation around."
Wolves face a mirror imagepublished at 10:03 GMT 31 October
10:03 GMT 31 October
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves are edging closer to a mirror image of last season.
Fail to beat Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday and they will match last season's 10-game winless start.
That is one of the reasons why Vitor Pereira replaced Gary O'Neil in December.
After Sunday's damaging 3-2 defeat to Burnley there is reluctance at Molineux to part with Pereira and there is still a belief he can turn it around. The players remain onside and both Shi and Fosun feel there is a way out of trouble.
Wolves also want to stop the revolving door of managers in the last three years after Bruno Lage and O'Neil lasted 14 months and Julen Lopetegui stayed for less than a year.
However, the winless run cannot continue indefinitely without consequences, everyone is aware of that and not naïve to the situation.
Pereira faces the media on Friday afternoon and, strangely for a side winless and bottom of the table, his future is not top of the agenda.
Purely finding a way to win, however they can, remains the priority for Wolves.
The year of the dead ballpublished at 08:08 GMT 31 October
08:08 GMT 31 October
This - it seems - is the season of the set piece.
The Premier League debates are more about dead balls than ever before, with some sides enjoying immense success from corner kicks, throw ins or well-worked free-kicks.
What fine timing then for BBC Sport to launch a column with former manager Tony Pulis, a man who seemed to finely extract the fine margins from the game.
Wolves need more than 'moral victories' published at 11:51 GMT 30 October
11:51 GMT 30 October
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It may have been a moral victory against Chelsea, but Wolves need more than that.
Almost coming back from 3-0 down - ultimately losing 4-3 in their Carabao Cup tie on Wednesday - shows that fight remains in the squad.
That is a trait they will need for a Premier League survival battle which looks increasingly bleak.
Failure to beat Fulham on Saturday would match last season's 10-game winless start and, although Vitor Pereira swooped in to save them, a repeat feels unlikely this time.
He still has the support of the players and performances to prove that - Sunday's damaging 3-2 defeat by Burnley saw the Clarets wasting time to hold on to a point before their stoppage-time winner - but there needs to be more.
The quality Pereira had last season is not there, Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri have not been replaced effectively enough and those that did arrive in the summer are still getting up to speed with the Premier League.
The unrest of the fans is a sign of deeper problems. They turned on Pereira again during the game on Wednesday but recognised the effort and fight at full-time.
That was in contrast to Sunday's scenes, where angry supporters shared a flashpoint with Pereira and his players post-match.
Their anger is routinely directed to executive chairman Jeff Shi and owners Fosun and, as relegation becomes a growing concern, that is not going to change.
'We gave ourselves mountain to climb, but climb it we nearly did'published at 11:01 GMT 30 October
11:01 GMT 30 October
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Wolves narrowly failed to complete a comeback against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Here are some of your replies:
Nathan: A terrible first half. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb, but climb that mountain we nearly did! There was lots of fight and passion, we just have to get that elusive win against Fulham!
Will: I can't understand why Vitor Pereira is still here. It's painful to watch this team, if you can call it a team.
Jim: I know my view won't be popular, but we must stick with Vitor and Fosun. The fight is there. The alternatives are way, way worse. I remember the freefall from the top flight to the old fourth division. We risk that happening again if we switch manager or ownership.
Stanley: It took us being three goals down before we showed anything. We can't carry on going two or more goals behind and then trying to fight back. The second half was our game-changer. We need to look at who played in that half and keep to that. We need to stop the changes to get stability. The odds are against us but we can only fight on.
Ian: A spirited fightback after a very poor first half. I felt it was a performance for the fans, the badge and the manager. Let's go get a win.
Pereira 'very happy with spirit shown in second half'published at 23:03 GMT 29 October
23:03 GMT 29 October
Image source, PA Media
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira, speaking after a 4-3 defeat by Chelsea in the Carabao Cup:
"What a second half. In the first half, we conceded the first goal and when I looked at the team, they were a bit lost and we conceded the second and third goals.
"It's my responsibility. We changed 11 players today and we play with 11 players who have not been playing for a long time. The connection is not easy for this kind of game.
"We spoke at half-time and I told them it is my fault, but I want to see my team and the spirit. We won 3-1 in the second half. The goal we conceded was a pity. We had the chance to score more goals.
"I am very happy with the spirit we showed in the second half and with our supporters. We feel the energy to compete and to change the situation."
Analysis: 'We just need a win' - Pereira after narrow cup losspublished at 22:34 GMT 29 October
22:34 GMT 29 October
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter at Molineux
Image source, PA Media
It is remarkable that Wolves supporters ended the 4-3 loss to Chelsea applauding their team off. After just 19 minutes, they were hammering the ownership and manager from the stands, chanting "we're going down".
Yet at the full-time whistle, despite not finding an equaliser to take the match to penalties, the fans stayed behind to acknowledge their team's efforts.
That initial reaction of anger was understandable given supporters will still be contemplating possible relegation from the Premier League. Wolves remain bottom, winless and had lost at home to newly promoted Burnley on Sunday after a dismal first nine league games.
Vitor Pereira's future is currently being questioned but this spirited fightback, from a team to which he made 11 changes, may have given everyone associated with the club pause for thought.
There can be questions about the lack of quality but not the fighting spirit from the manager or players.
Pereira said: "This is maybe one of the best groups of players in my career, with spirit and character, to try to change the situation. When you change 11 players from the last game, you take the risk.
"This was my responsibility because I decided to do it. I wanted to give opportunities to players that deserved the opportunity. It is very difficult for a team to come back from losing 3-0 to show what they did in the second half.
"We showed the supporters we can do it again. We just need a win to believe and move on. We won the second half 3-1 but it was a pity they got that goal.
"I don't have any doubts that we can do it [stay up] and turn around the situation by the end of the season."
Wolves v Chelsea: Team newspublished at 18:51 GMT 29 October
18:51 GMT 29 October
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter
Both clubs have rung the changes for the Carabao Cup by making 11 (Wolves) and 10 (Chelsea) changes respectively.
Under pressure Wolves manager Vitor Pereira has used the full reserves of his squad but it has served him well in this competition, with two wins against Premier League opposition to reach this stage.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, has only kept exciting academy defender Josh Acheampong in his starting XI with Liam Delap back from a hamstring injury to make the bench.
You can also listen to today's Radio 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Brighton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Crystal Palace", for instance.
'Wolves have looked poor from day one'published at 17:02 GMT 29 October
17:02 GMT 29 October
Image source, Getty Images
Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.
Nick (an utterly miserable Wolves fan) asked: Do you agree that Wolves are pretty much down? Our owners' plan to simply be better than the promoted sides has finally backfired.
Phil answered: I feel your pain.
I'm afraid I did predict trouble ahead for Wolves this season - relegation in fact - and I've seen nothing to change my mind. They lost such crucial players in Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri, so hard to replace.
Wolves have looked poor from day one and I must admit I was surprised Vitor Pereira was given a new three-year contract, so soon into the season, in September, although this current crisis is not all down to him as he has seen his two best players sold.
It is never a good look when you see scenes like altercations between Pereira and fans, as we did when they lost to Burnley, and such unrest between supporters and owners. It is a clear sign of problems.
Wolves is a great old club with Premier League pedigree, but they are in real trouble.
Why Wolves' position is 'more perilous than at this point last season'published at 13:17 GMT 29 October
13:17 GMT 29 October
Mike Taylor BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty Images
In that operatic final scene on Sunday, Vitor Pereira seemed startled by the volume of criticism directed at him personally as Wolves lost to Burnley. No doubt it was unpleasant to hear, at a moment of high emotion. Yet it is reasonable to ask, although probably a second-order question, whether it is credible for a manager to carry on after being embroiled in a carry-on with supporters like that.
The word quickly went out that his job was not under immediate threat. Nick Mashiter wrote on this page on Tuesday that the club believes Pereira's experience in saving Wolves last season will be valuable in a similar battle this time.
Maybe it will, although if we also accept Pereira and his associates had more influence on assembling the squad than some of his predecessors, that starts to sound like pretzel logic. Better, perhaps, to argue that the man who helped to set the squad up ought to be better-placed than any replacement coach to find the best combinations in it.
That position comes under greater stress with each successive defeat. But, and much worse, there is a resigned feeling at large - a sense that it doesn't really matter if Pereira stays or goes, as the club's problems are deeper than the identity of the coach.
To many, the root causes of failure lie with the ownership as represented on the ground by chairman Jeff Shi - unmoved, apparently, by the reported offer from the serial football investor John Textor, and committed to their policy of self-sustainability.
Their position is more perilous than at this point last season in three ways: a year ago, they had played most of the top clubs early in the season; the three promoted sides this year are clearly stronger than last; and the Wolves squad appears fundamentally weaker anyway, even though much of the money raised this summer has been spent.
Wolves won a rollicking victory at Fulham last November. It was a false dawn, and things had to get a good deal darker again before action was taken and relegation staved off.
As they head to back to Craven Cottage this weekend, it will take more than one win to restore faith that just finishing 17th is even possible, never mind acceptable.
'Managed decline' - why Fosun and Shi have lost the fanspublished at 13:57 GMT 28 October
13:57 GMT 28 October
Dazzling Dave Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves are living through managed decline and the responsibility sits with Fosun and executive chairman Jeff Shi. Results are the symptom. The root is ownership strategy, recruitment and constant churn.
Pereira's clash with supporters after the Burnley loss captured the mood. He asked for unity. Fans answered with "Fosun out".
Two points from nine games, losses to all three promoted sides and stoppage-time heartbreak again. Whether Pereira stays or goes now feels secondary. The system above him is broken.
Fosun gave Pereira a new three-year deal in September, after replacing Gary O'Neil last season despite his long contract. That flip-flop erodes credibility. It also points to a club without a clear football plan, lurching between short-term fixes and PR resets.
Recruitment has been the bigger failure. Letting Premier League-proven players leave stripped experience and leadership. Replacing them with players new to England, then asking them to learn on the job in a struggling side, was reckless. Chasing resale value only works if you stay up. Relegation nukes their value.
Shi has overseen soaring highs and this current slump. The problem now is direction and trust. Fans no longer believe the owners are putting football first. The mixed messages on ambition, the cost-controlled windows and the lack of a coherent identity have drained goodwill. Sacking another head coach will not fix that.
What would? Clarity and competence. Appoint a seasoned CEO of football operations. Set a recruitment plan focused on Premier League-proven profiles and a spine that can compete now. Communicate honestly about budgets and goals. And if Fosun will not fund survival-level investment, they should consider leadership changes at the top, starting with Shi.
It may not stop the slide overnight, but admitting the plan has failed, resetting leadership and recruiting for the reality of a relegation fight is the only path back to credibility with the fans.
Image source, Getty Images
