Wolverhampton Wanderers

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game at Crystal Palace (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "Only issue is Tommy Doyle with a small problem, and Sam [Johnstone] to clean the injury that he had before. But they are not serious injuries, just small things that they want to clean."

• Pereira admitted he does not have any information regarding Matheus Cunha's future but said the forward "is committed, he is my player and is working with happiness".

• On his manager of the year nomination: "A bit surprised because I came into the league in the middle of the season, but proud of my players, my staff, the club and the supporters because this is team work. It's not just me who has achieved this,. It is something special, for sure, and I am very proud."

• Pereira stated that their goal after he arrived was to "transform their situation" into something better, and that was their "title". Survival was the goal, but for next season, the goal is to get better, "create a strong team with a strong base".

• On Nelson Semedo and Pablo Sarabia's future: "Nelson knows we want him in the team. Even Sarabia - I like his personality and quality. We tried to do our best, but at this moment, I don't have the answer. We must wait. Sometimes we are impatient, and we must respect the timing of the players and the club."

• On the travelling Wolves fans: "Thanks a lot for the support, because without them we cannot transform a very difficult season into looking towards the future."

• Pereira reiterated that he was ready for a break after a long season, starting with the work he had done in Saudi Arabia and subsequently taking over the Wolves job. However, the Portuguese manager stated that there will be important "meetings" during the summer as they have "work to do".

• On Crystal Palace: "I believe that the motivation of the supporters and the team will be at a high level. But to prepare a game, I look at my team on what we can do, try to be consistent - and next season to be more consistent, to play better football. This is the way to improve our level."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Wolves' Jorgen Strand Larsen has made more targeted off-the-ball runs into the box than any other player in the Premier League this season (109).

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to identify the current Wolves player.

The answer is Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Guess the current Wolves player from these three clues:

• I had a spell in AC Milan's youth system but never made a senior appearance for them.

• I have played senior football in four different countries.

• I have four appearances in the Europa League.

Come back to this page at 17:00 BST for the answer.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League 2024-25 manager of the year shortlist, external has been announced.

Nottingham Forest's Nuno Espirito Santo, Brentford's Thomas Frank, Newcastle United's Eddie Howe, Wolves' Vitor Pereira and Liverpool's Arne Slot have all been nominated.

Voting closes 12:00 BST on Monday 19 May.

The votes from the public will then be combined with those of a panel of football experts to decide the winner.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Age-old wisdom asserts that the league table tells the truth in the long run - and certainly by mid-May. Wolves' recent experience fits entirely with this, in so far as their recent six-match winning run came, freakishly, against the six clubs currently ranked below them.

Last Friday, Vitor Pereira warded off any thoughts their final three games might be an anti-climax by suggesting that their opponents – Brighton, Crystal Palace and Brentford, all set to finish in the middle third – are clubs that Wolves should realistically be able to match next season.

The Brighton game supported his thesis. There did not appear to be much between the teams in the general flow of the match, but Brighton found the precision at both ends to tilt things their way.

Now and then, Wolves produced some attractive passing, Matheus Cunha in particular getting the crowd cooing in the first half as he showed off his repertoire. But Brighton's less flashy work eventually took a grip on the game while Wolves spun their wheels. Mats Wieffer made himself Cunha's menacing shadow, forcing the blunder that set up the result. Wolves were not bad - just ineffective.

"In the first half we competed, created some chances to finish, but missed the last shot or last pass… one or two mistakes," said Pereira. "We played a lot with our heart in the second half, but without intelligence to control the pace. When [it] goes to this kind of match, with transitions and counter-attack transitions, we win the ball, we lose the ball, and this is not the game that I like because it's unpredictable. In the end, they punished us and they deserved to win."

Most of the attention around Wolves' recovery under Pereira has focused, understandably, on the revival of team spirit and getting the fans onside. Certainly the club needed someone to rally behind and fix some urgent problems. The sense that everyone is now pulling broadly in the same direction has been essential to get away from trouble.

But Saturday's game illustrated that unity and fighting spirit will only get them so far. To reach Pereira's next checkpoint - and avoiding the relegation stress of two of the past three seasons - will need more work. Perhaps the time available in pre-season can allow it, fostering the intelligence and sense of control needed against better sides.

To that end, Pereira may have found Saturday a more informative, if less enjoyable, experience.

Listen to full commentary of Crystal Palace v Wolves at 20:00 BST on Tuesday, 20 May on BBC Radio WM 95.6FM/DAB/Freeview

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

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For the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.

The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.

Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.

When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.

It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.

I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.

I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

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Brighton have a knack for spoiling Wolves' party, and the latest defeat was a reminder that the "manager of the month curse" is alive and well at Molineux.

For Wolves supporters, the Seagulls' recent record is enough to give a sinking feeling before kick-off. Time after time, Wolves have not solved Brighton's puzzle. Their press, quick transitions and tactical shape always seem to catch Wolves out.

Wolves' first half offered glimpses of control and a few decent spells, but after conceding a penalty - another mistake that is all too familiar - it felt like things were not going to go our way. There was little urgency and the home crowd felt the disappointment.

It was not a thrashing, but it hurt because Wolves were mostly undone by themselves. Brighton's discipline and shape made the difference. Wolves had more of the ball but did not threaten enough. The creative spark just was not there.

Matheus Cunha dropped much deeper than usual, missing his usual impact up front and his costly challenge for the penalty gave Brighton their opener. Goncalo Guedes had moments but could not convert. When corners and free-kicks came Wolves' way, they led to nothing. Wolves seemed to lose all their attacking intent.

A slip in concentration led to Brighton's second goal and Wolves just could not recover.

For fans, the loss felt avoidable. Brighton were not outstanding, but still beat us again. The frustration is clear: without more creativity, pace, or a real goal threat, Wolves will keep finding teams like Brighton hard to break down. Looking ahead, summer recruitment needs to focus on fixing these issues.

It would be a shame if Wolves just limp over the line. We need to keep recent momentum going, find that missing spark and set the tone for next year.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Wolves and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Rhys: Not a bad performance by Wolves. Thought we played all right but Brighton punished us for the mistakes we made. Matheus Cunha can leave now. He cost us a goal and he got booked. We just need to get these two games out of the way.

Mike: We were unable to cope with Brighton's press and made lots of unforced errors. We lacked width, particularly on the right wing . Some key players showed insufficient commitment to keep the ball.

Stefan: We lacked that killer punch. Strange game where we should have scored at least one goal, but could have conceded a couple more, particularly with defenders trying to play two-touch football to clear the ball instead of getting rid of it upfield. Still some promising stuff coming out of the squad with anticipation for a better outcome next season.

Matthew: Awful performance after the first 15 minutes. Players already on the beach, clearly. Worst Cunha display in ages too.

Brighton fans

David: Excellent all-round team performance. Have we missed Joao Pedro? Past three game without him, seven points. Previous three with him, one point. Well done Danny Welbeck from the spot.

Mick: For the second game running, I don't think we were the better team on the day, but we managed this game better. Some notable performances from Mats Wieffer, Pervis Estupinan and player of the year Jan Paul van Hecke. The manager won the tactical battle and individual players snuffed out the threat from Wolves' danger men. With Pedro back next week we have a chance of taking the final European place.

Fran: Good team performance, with substitutions again made the difference. The players are starting to show what they can do even if it is coming to the end of the season so things looks good for the future. Just concentrate on the next two games and if we get Europe fine. If not, we have still had a good season.

Sean: Now we have some defenders back fit, we are looking more solid at the back. It was great to keep a clean sheet. Some solid performances all over the pitch, I think eighth may be just out of reach with having to play Liverpool next, but if we can keep the core squad and manager, finishing in the top five could be a reality next season.

Tim Oscroft
BBC Sport journalist

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Wolves' season, which included a run of five consecutive wins in April, could be in danger of fading away after a second consecutive loss where they failed to score.

They will rue the chances they missed in the 2-0 loss to Brighton, especially in the first half, including Goncalo Guedes' flick over the bar when unmarked in the penalty area and Marshall Munetsi's headers that lacked venom.

But Vitor Pereira rolled the dice when introducing Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Pablo Sarabia and Jorgen Strand Larsen just before the hour - and the move almost paid off.

The hosts enjoyed their best spell as the game opened up, with Bart Verbruggen keeping Brighton ahead when he saved a deflection from Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke.

But they ran out of steam towards the end, and their remaining fixtures at Crystal Palace and at home to Brentford give them some hope of finishing mid-table to prove that April's run was no fluke.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira, speaking to BBC Match Of The Day after the 2-0 defeat to Brighton: "The first half we competed.

"We created some chances to finish, but missing the last shot, the last pass. We competed with one or two mistakes.

"The second half, in my opinion we can do better.

"We tried to turnover the result. We missed some organisation - the game started to become unpredictable and very open - we spoiled ourselves to counter-attacks.

"We played a lot with heart in the second half, but without the intelligence to control the pace.

"When the match goes to this kind of match - transitions, , we win ball, we lose the ball - this is not the game that I like because it's unpredictable.

"In the end, they punished us and they deserve to win."

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have lost consecutive Premier League games for the first time since a run of four in January, having won eight of their 11 games in the competition since that run (D1 L2).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Wolves' performance

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Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

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Wolves' winning run was ended by Manchester City last time out but I was still really impressed by their intensity and they will cause Brighton plenty of problems too.

It has been a strange season for the Seagulls, who have been a top-half team for the entire campaign but have won only one of their past seven league games.

I don't think their campaign is necessarily fizzling out because they played well in their draw with Newcastle last week, but their poor run might continue because I don't see them beating Wolves either.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here.

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Fulham v Everton

• Ipswich Town v Brentford

• Southampton v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa (17:30 BST) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Pereira said that he will face a "late decision" over the fitness of forwards Hwang Hee-chan and Jorgen Strand Larsen, but that the rest of the squad is available for selection.

• When asked about Hwang's lack of minutes: "We don't play with two strikers and [Jorgen Strand] Larsen is scoring [goals]. Until now I didn't have space for him and this is football."

• On ending the season on a high: "For us the next three games will be a challenge. [We need to] compete with three teams that are consistent at playing good football and we need to understand and realise what level we are at so in the future we can compete with them [higher up the table]."

• Pereira said he wants to create "a piece of art" at Wolves, adding: "I want to create something that I never created before, because to improve yourself, you must try to create something special every time, not be comfortable with what you did before."

• He added: "This is my idea a piece of art. If we commit everyone to achieve something, we can do special things. We are together and I want to improve and increase the commitment between the club, the players, the supporters, the city. This is the way to compete with the big teams in this league."

• On giving youth team players minutes: "Football is not about gifts, it's about earning the right to play and I like to be honest with the players and with myself. I will select the players that are in [the right] conditions to compete and win the games and we will reward the players that deserve it."

• He added: "I will not use the last games just to put players on the pitch, you have to work to earn your position."

• On Brighton: "We are facing a team with quality all over the pitch and the players have been together for a long time under [lots of] good managers. We have to be organised."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Wolves and West Ham United are two of the clubs looking at a potential summer transfer for 24-year-old Genoa and Denmark defensive midfielder Morten Frendrup. (Football Transfers), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Rayan Ait-Nouri has been directly involved in more goals than any other defender in the Premier League this season (11 – four goals, seven assists). He is the only Wolves defender to have 10 or more goal contributions in a single campaign in the competition.

Wolves (62 goals conceded from 439 shots faced) have let in a higher share of their shots faced than any other side in the Premier League this season (14%) except for Saturday's opponents Brighton, who have also conceded 14% (56 goals from 395 shots).

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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In other circumstances, Wolves' celebrations - for it was hard to describe them as anything else - on the pitch at Etihad Stadium on Friday might have seemed a little indulgent.

It was much more than the usual reaction of a defeated away side: the standard wander over towards the travelling fans, returning their polite applause, eyes slightly downcast. Vitor Pereira and his players instead resembled the cast of a West End show, all gathered on stage to join hands for a curtain call.

But Wolves had attacked Manchester City as if they felt that they were on equal terms. City might not have the same aura as a year ago but they are still a team of formidable talent and Wolves, without Jorgen Strand Larsen after injury ended his golden recent run, matched them in every regard except for the finishing touch.

So the winning run ended. Still, six out of seven is not bad and Wolves had at least put on a good show, the sort of performance you can really enjoy when your team is essentially free of jeopardy.

Zooming out a little, perhaps the most important thing to learn is that, after a mostly grey period, being emotionally invested in Wolves feels good again.

Since the pandemic, the focus of the club and the supporters has been less about what is happening now and more on fear for the future. What if there is no more money? What if this or that player leaves? What if we go down?

It was becoming a joyless ride, a slog towards keeping Premier League status, and for what: just to stagger onwards, hovering above next season's newcomers, hoping just to exist in the Premier League because the alternative was somehow worse?

It did not take much. A few wins obviously helped but suddenly it is fun to enjoy Wolves in the present again: a team that, while imperfect, has a clear plan and believes in its own ability, so you can believe in it too.

Pereira, wise enough to know that such a moment can be transient, is eager to keep pushing to the end of the season. Carry that feeling forward and transfer targets looking for a new clubs to join will feel it this summer as well.

• Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Brighton at 15:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM/DAB/Freeview]

• Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Wolves are among several Premier League clubs interested in Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, 22. (Talksport, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport