Pereira tells struggling Wolves it is time to perform after cup win

Tolu Arokodare had already scored for Nigeria and former club Genk this season

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has told his players it is time to perform and ignite their season.

Marshall Munetsi and Tolu Arokodare fired the Premier League strugglers into the Carabao Cup fourth round with victory over Everton on Tuesday.

Victory brings some relief for Wolves, who beat West Ham in the last round, after the worst league start in their history left them bottom of the table.

They have lost their opening five top-flight games - including a 3-2 home defeat to the Toffees last month - but remain confident Pereira's experience will prove crucial in arresting their slide.

He said: "Now for the players, the new players, the time for adaptation has finished. This is time to perform and time to help the team.

"With two or three good results we can play at another level, for sure.

"The work I watch everyday in training is hard work and this is a group who work a lot, they compete and want to be at a better level. We're just missing the results because the players have quality.

"I'm happy for my players because I missed their smiles and the smiles of the supporters."

Midfielder Munetsi struck midway through the first half after Mark Travers parried Jhon Arias' smart volley.

Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone had already turned Michael Keane's header over while James Garner's second-half free-kick hit the bar as Everton looked for a leveller.

Jack Grealish came off the bench for the visitors and almost conjured an equaliser for Jake O'Brien but striker Arokodare - a £23m summer signing from Genk - chipped in a neat second with three minutes left for his first Wolves goal.

Everton boss David Moyes said: "It was a 0-0 game in the first half, we gave away a diabolical goal. Wolves were not better than us. They were for the first 10 minutes or so but the game was 0-0. We gave away a terrible first goal which altered things.

"We probably dominated most of the second half but couldn't find a way of getting a goal.

"The players introduced [in the second half] made a huge difference. We want everyone to play at that level. We didn't play at that level in the first half but I don't think Wolves did either. I didn't think they were necessarily better at that time."

Wolves boosted while Everton miss another trophy chance

It was a contrasting atmosphere at the beginning and end of the game at Molineux.

Many Wolves fans had stayed away, unhappy with the way owners Fosun are running the club, but by the end they were chanting Pereira's name after a much-needed win.

The five straight Premier League defeats have left supporters fearing the worst, although there is quiet confidence internally Pereira will get it right with time.

That will be highlighted by victory against Everton, although a much-changed side from that which won at Molineux in the league last month.

Both Wolves' victories in the EFL Cup have come against Premier League opposition and they will take heart from those as they search for a first league win.

But fresh from derby disappointment against Liverpool at the weekend, Everton have seen one avenue for a trophy dry up before the end of September.

David Moyes made seven changes but the underwhelming Thierno Barry failed to take his chance, with the £27m summer signing's biggest impact a booking for petulantly kicking the ball into the advertising hoardings.

It is 30 years since they last lifted major silverware, the 1995 FA Cup, and it was another missed opportunity.

What is next for these teams?

Wolves: A trip to Tottenham is next on the agenda on Saturday before they host Brighton on 5 October.

Everton: The Toffees welcome David Moyes' former club West Ham on Monday and then host Crystal Palace on 5 October.

Where next?

Calm at Wolves despite five Premier League defeats

Emphasis on doing well in the Cups - Tarkowski

Has modern football adopted the Allardyce playbook?