Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Cesar Peixoto is not feeling the love from Molineux despite being fourth in the Championship table.

Chants of 'you don't know what you're doing' rang through the stadium during Saturday's game against Watford after Wolves put just three of their 24 shots on target in a 1-0 win.

For Ryan Leister of The Wolves Report podcast, it is one specific squad decision that is getting fans hot under the collar.

"The person that seems to be splitting the mix is Marshall Munetsi," Leister told BBC Radio WM's Football Phone-In on Wednesday.

"Incredible engine, incredible professional, seems like a really good guy, but when you've got a midfielder who plays in midfield that doesn't want to be on the football, it's hardly a surprise that you're not going to be able to play through many teams.

"If Wolves go into that game on Saturday and they don't start Jordan James and Wolves don't win the game, the manager is going to feel some real heat."

Leister feels a tactical tweak that would allow James to provide more support to Andre in the midfield while also getting the best out of Fer Lopez in attack could help Peixoto earn back some trust.

Until the performances improve though, the Portuguese is going to struggle to get the fans on his side, says Leister.

He added: "Support has to be ignited from somewhere. You can't just expect the fans to turn up and be at their roaring and angry best on a good day and not give something as well.

"If the football is pedestrian, expect the fans to be pedestrian as well."

Listen to BBC Radio WM's Football Phone-In on weeknights at 6-7pm or catch up on BBC Sounds here.

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Cesar Peixoto is not the first Wolves manager, let alone manager of anyone else, to be told by a section of his home crowd that he doesn't know what he's doing.

But he may be the first one whose team were actually winning the game when it happened.

Saturday was an odd day. Wolves beat Watford both narrowly and comfortably. They played well at times and not very well at others.

The team won, and the coach was jeered, although not by everyone.

Perhaps those of us who liked to think the result ultimately trumps all other considerations, especially in the free-for-all of the Championship, are wrong after all.

In the first half, Wolves camped in Watford's territory, outshot the visitors 17-0 (although lamentably few were on target), and Adam Armstrong, looking sharper than recently, ended his non-scoring run with a neat finish.

That wasn't so bad, even if Watford were, well, so bad.

The second half dragged a bit. Perhaps the first was just too easy.

Even so, when Jordan James was replaced after an efficient if not spectacular performance, the annoyed fans let Peixoto know about it.

James has become the latest focus of attention. He is an obvious talent at this level.

But Fer Lopez's form made him the first pick before the break, alongside the unpopular but determined Marshall Munetsi.

When Peixoto left Munetsi out and played Lopez and James together, Wolves put in an anaemic showing against Bolton and deservedly lost.

A detached observer might argue that with Wolves in the top four while sorting this out - despite some key players still being injured - things could be a lot worse.

But in football grounds there are very few detached observers.

Peixoto's request at last Friday's press conference for a little more patience from fans sounded better in the room than it was ever going to read on the page.

In suggesting that if he was an opposition manager, he would tell his team that if they kept it quiet for 20 minutes the home fans would turn, he was saying out loud something that most managers - at every ground, not just Molineux - have probably thought at one time or another.

Not many would have been bold enough to say so.

In that sense, of airing uncensored opinions, he may be the straightest-talking Wolves manager since Mick McCarthy.

There is something to admire about that.

But he may need to win quite a few more games - and maybe more stylishly - before some fans will be willing to hear him out.

Listen to BBC Radio WM's football phone-in on weeknights from 18:00-19:00 GMT.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be trying to take a place in the automatic promotion spots as they host Cardiff City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Fourth placed Wolves are just two points shy of second placed Swansea City as it stands.

Cardiff, meanwhile, sit firmly in the midtable in 16th and will be hoping to continue their three-match undefeated run (W2 D1) to ascend closer to the promotion chasers.

• Wolves have alternated between winning and losing across their last six home league games against Cardiff City (W3 L3), winning their last 2-0 in March 2019.

• None of the last 12 league meetings between Wolves and Cardiff have been drawn, with the Bluebirds winning seven times to Wolves' five in that time.

• Wolves have won three of their last five home league games (D1 L1), as many as in their previous 22 at Molineux (D7 L12).

• Cardiff are one of three teams – along with Preston and Watford – yet to win an away match in the Championship this season (D2 L4).

• Cardiff's Ollie Tanner has created more chances from open play than any other player in the Championship this season (25), while only Finn Azaz (5) has more open play assists than his four.

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

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Wolves beat Watford 1-0 and a win is always welcome. But the performance left a familiar question hanging over the celebrations.

If this side is meant to dominate the league and earn an immediate return to the Premier League, why does it still feel so hard to see the quality?

The BBC's match stats tell part of the story. Wolves had 24 shots, but only three were on target. That is just 12.5% of their attempts. Taking shots is not the same as threatening the goalkeeper and too many Wolves attacks ended without making Watford work.

This is becoming a familiar frustration rather than a one-off. Too often this season we have been waiting for Wolves' quality on paper to translate into quality on the pitch. Promising attacks lose their way and chances pass without the goalkeeper being tested.

The Watford game brought three points, but little reassurance that those problems are being addressed. For a side expected to dominate this division and go straight back up, that gap between expectation and performance is becoming harder to ignore.

It would be unfair to dismiss the win. Three points matter and Wolves showed enough persistence to find a way through.

But supporters are entitled to expect more than a narrow victory built on a high volume of shots.

A side with promotion ambitions should be making more of those moments count or at least forcing the opposition goalkeeper into more saves. One goal was enough to take the points, but it did not make the wider concern disappear.

That does not mean every shot should fly into the top corner. It does mean choosing better opportunities, getting attempts on target and showing more composure when the game is there to be won.

Wolves need to turn attacking spells into clear chances, not just a big number in the match statistics.

The table will judge Wolves on results, but performances matter, too. If the aim is to go straight back up the standard has to look convincing, not merely good enough to scrape past Watford.

This was a win and Wolves should take it. But the 24 shots and three on target are a warning. Until the quality starts showing where it matters most, supporters will keep asking whether this team is truly playing like promotion favourites.

Find more from Dave at Always Wolves, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Jon: We really seem to struggle to put games to bed when we score. We are lacking a bit of quality in wide and attacking positions and we allowed Watford back into the game and were clinging on towards the end against a poor side. There is a bit of a flat and frustrated mood amongst the fans and we need a bit of sparkle to lift the clouds. We are close the top of the table but not playing like it. A win is a win but the second half was a struggle. Can we do better against Cardiff?

Mike: The first half was more positive than in any game since the international break, but this has to be measured against the fact that Watford looked a very poor team. The second half was dire, we contrived to give opportunities to Watford but they still didn't manage a shot on target. Wolves look well below the level that is required for promotion.

Rob: The Albion game all over again. Poor opposition with a great stopper in goal. But Wolves should have been out of sight by half-time. James was impressive, not sure why he was subbed and the manager needs to find a way of starting James and Lopez. At last we saw Mane running again and again at defenders rather than holding back. But we must stop messing about with the ball in defence. Krejci was nearly caught several times just after half-time, just clear the danger! A long way to go if we are to threaten for promotion.

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Watford fans

Howard: Absolutely terrible. Far too negative.

Chris: In the first half Wolves had almost 70% possession, 17 shots to none from us and scored. We failed to be competitive and, regretfully, the second half we only slightly improved. For the last 70 years even our worst years we were generally always competitive, we even created chances at Wembley against Man City. Our club is totally mismanaged from top to bottom and our players are the pits, surely we have to change everything.

Mark: Another change of formation, more players out of position. There is no structure and the only consistency is losing. I have never seen such a poor side in over 45 years of watching Watford. Please invest in some quality players.

John Bennett
BBC Final Score reporter

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On paper, the win over Watford on Saturday should fill Wolves fans with plenty of positivity after a post international-break blip in form, but, for me, it brought up the big concern about this team - they're not clinical enough.

The result should've been a lot more comfortable for the home side and the atmosphere in the second half should have been a lot less edgy and nervy. The stats say it all; 26 shots, just 1 goal.

I was impressed with their flowing football at times, with the likes of Kieran Trippier, Jordan James and substitute Mateus Mane looking dangerous and there were so many attacking opportunities.

However on countless occasions either the final shot, or more often than not, the final ball, let Wolves down.

Plus, it's not a one off; in fact it's now 10 matches on the spin for Wolves without scoring more than two goals in a game. That's something that didn't cost them against a Watford side that offered very little, but it did last Tuesday when they conceded an 86th-minute equaliser at home to Portsmouth.

Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty to be happy about from a Wolves perspective and it's to their credit that Watford were so toothless on Saturday.

To add to that, it was also a weekend when a number of rivals, just above them, and just below them, dropped points.

But in a tight promotion race, Cesar Peixoto's side have to find a way to be more clinical in front of goal, to avoid needlessly dropping points in games which they totally dominate.

Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Cesar Peixoto spoke to BBC Radio WM after his side's 1-0 victory against Watford. For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

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"We have to have more mobility," said Cesar Peixoto, pondering what Wolves could have done to overcome Portsmouth's "deep block" and avoid dropping points at home for the second Tuesday running.

"Speed up the game, attack one side, go to the other side, attack the spaces - in the first half we didn't do this."

It was all going so well last month, after Wolves had beaten Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion on successive Sundays, demonstrating all the qualities required of a strong Championship side: grit, nerve, energy and the conviction to grasp their chance.

There were flashes of that at Burnley, after a poor start, but the spark from the Albion game has gone out. Why?

There have been injuries. Fer Lopez looked like the best player in the league before the break, but a knock while with Spain Under-21s appears to have broken his stride lately.

Raul Jimenez was sidelined before the Black Country derby, but the news that his return may be significantly later than first hoped seemed to pull a grey cloud over Molineux.

Adam Armstrong was not in apex form but the issue that has cost him two games has demonstrated how much work he was actually getting through. Kieran Trippier has not taken the field in the last two games either.

That's not nothing. "I think if you have [Trippier], if you have [Armstrong], if you have Raul or other players, more experienced players in this kind of game help us," said Peixoto after the 1-1 draw against Portsmouth.

That is undoubtedly true, but many of those who did play were able to call themselves Premier League footballers this time last year.

For all Peixoto's increasingly agitated body language from the sidelines, evidence that they have the quality or energy to earn back that status was scarce on Tuesday.

Peixoto's diagnosis matches that of many fans. In the first half against Portsmouth, he said, the players did not "take the risk I want in our game… you have to take the risk to play with courage to win the games."

Yes, but somebody has to lead on the field. Losing Jimenez and Trippier at the same time is unfortunate, but it was hardly unforeseeable that such senior players would not be in every game even if they stayed uninjured.

All is not lost, far from it. Wolves are still only five points off the top, the amount lost in the just the past two home games, but the sullen atmosphere that has plagued Molineux for the last few years is back, and Wolves need a blast from somebody – Storm Mateus? Storm Fer? Storm Jordan? – to blow it away, quick.

BBC Radio WM Football Phone-In is weeknights 6-7pm

Wolves v Watford - commentary on BBC Radio WM (DAB Black Country), Saturday 15:00 BST

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford will have different aims when they meet at Molineux on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Wolves have only won one of their past four games after returning from international break and are now four points adrift of the automatic promotion places.

Watford, however, picked up a win against Charlton Athletic last time out to end a four match losing streak and are hoping to at least retain their three point gap from the bottom three.

• Wolverhampton Wanderers have won four of their last five league games against Watford (L1) and could win three in a row against the Hornets in the league for the first time.

• Watford have won just two of their last 20 away league games against Wolves (D11 L7), a 2-1 win in August 2007 and a 2-0 win in October 2018.

• Wolves are without a win in their last two home league games (D1 L1); not since April 2017 have they failed to win three successive league games on home soil in the Championship (D1 L2).

• Watford have lost nine of their last 10 away league games (D1), scoring just five goals and conceding 25 goals in that run.

• Only three players have been involved in more Championship goals this season than Wolves' Fer López (8 – 5 goals, 3 assists).

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We asked for your thoughts after Wolves drew 1-1 with Portsmouth in the Championship at Molineux on Tuesday night.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Robert: Both teams would have been better off playing rock, paper, scissors. It would have been more exciting. Lack of quality evident and without a striker Wolves will struggle to get into play-off contention. January window a long way off unfortunately.

Laura: We somehow find a way to be more frustrating with each game. There doesn't seem to be any intent to get in the opponents' faces and put them under real sustained pressure - we do it for a little bit, then just back off and surrender any momentum we've built up. The most frustrating thing though is hearing the manager just saying we're the better team - he must be watching a different game to the 30,000 of us in the stands who are fed up of seeing their team being out-fought and out-thought.

Wol: Poor first half and Cesar made changes at start of the second half which made us more of a threat going forward. We scored a good goal and should have pressed for a second to kill the game off but as always we let the opposition get back in the game. It shows our lack of attacking options when you have to bring on a centre back to play as a striker.

Paul: Terrible performance from Wolves. Very predictable side to side and a few hopeful crosses. We need a striker fast. The young lad Neave is still learning, not what Wolves need, but nothing we can do with injuries. Think we will be in the play-offs. Fosun need to get their fingers out in Jan!

Rich: 11 games in and we look as poor and as clueless as we did last season but against lesser opposition. Manager doesn't know how to defend and sets the team up with five across the front line and no midfield so we concede so many goals. Questions need to be asked because this team or manager are not good enough to be promoted.

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Portsmouth fans

Pompey Dave: Terry Devlin to the rescue with another great strike. A decent away point keeps things going nicely with a fair bit of squad rotation. Well done Pompey.

Ray: Terrible journey, terrible weather, terrible game... but great result. Play up Pompey!

Andy: With four games in quick succession we would have lost that game last season. Good to see Pompey showing resilience.

Grant: Following from Berlin and for this Pompey supporter this is an excellent point. Almost feels like another away win. Almost...

Graham: Gutsy and kept going until the end. A point against the odds.

Brian: Not a great game but with our squad value being 10% of theirs and us having 11 of our squad injured, it is a great result.

Norman: A tough sequence of games and Pompey have done really well. Most importantly goals are coming from more than one player and scoring very late in games which is really positive all round. But why so many injuries?

Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto is hopeful that experienced players Adam Armstrong and Kieran Trippier will be fit for their game against Watford on Saturday (15:00 BST) after conceding a late 1-1 draw to Portsmouth on Tuesday.

Trippier was the latest senior player to be sidelined with an injury after striker Armstrong also missed the weekend's win against Burnley while Raul Jimenez has been ruled out until January.

"I hope Adam Armstrong is fit for Saturday," Piexoto told BBC Radio WM.

"Kieran Trippier felt something and I hope it is only a little injury. When we have injuries, we need to find solutions."

Wolves conceded an 86th-minute equaliser to Portsmouth when substitute Tommy Doyle pushed Adrian Segecic to ground to offer the visitors a free-kick, which then rebounded to Terry Devlin who struck it in the net.

It provided a second home draw for Wolves, who have only won two of their five games at Molineux this season.

"It's disappointing to get only one point," Peixoto added. "We need more victories at home.

"In the first half we have to do much more. We didn't attack the spaces. But we made two substitutes for the second half.

"We were the better team all game, but we only scored one goal, we did not get a second goal and then we defended too deep in the last few minutes."

Listen to the full interview above or on BBC Sounds here.

Emma Milton
Fan writer

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Wolves' comeback win at Burnley was exactly what we needed after consecutive defeats.

Coming from behind showed character, and Fer Lopez and Tawanda Chirewa deserve credit for helping turn the game around. Chirewa's winner was a reminder that fresh energy and a bit of belief can make all the difference.

But the three points only matter if Wolves build on them. We have seen signs of progress before, only for the same problems to return a week later. There is enough ability in this squad to give us hope. The challenge is showing it more often.

One big concern is Raul Jimenez's injury. He is an important player, but Wolves cannot depend on one number nine to provide the goals. The striker needs support from the midfield and wide players. We need more players making runs, taking shots and giving the opposition different problems to deal with.

Finishing has been a major frustration. Wolves have created chances without making enough of them count. The numbers against Burnley were more encouraging: 20 shots, eight on target and an expected-goals figure of 1.82, compared with Burnley's 1.00.

That suggests progress, but it does not mean the problem is fixed. Wolves still missed good chances, and Burnley had more touches in the opposition box.

We also need to see more urgency. At times, Wolves have looked like a team waiting for things to happen, rather than doing enough to make them happen. Whether that comes from nerves or a lack of confidence, it has to change. The Championship will not reward reputation or potential. Wolves have to compete for every point.

Nobody expects perfect performances every week. Injuries, poor form and difficult games are part of football. But supporters want to see a team that works for each other, takes its chances and treats every match as a chance to move forward.

Burnley could be a turning point, but only if Wolves make it one. The real test is whether they can avoid slipping back into familiar habits after a win.

The three points gave us a reason to believe again. Now Wolves need to give us a reason to keep believing.

Find more from Emma at Always Wolves, external

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Wolves will seek to return to the top-five of the Championship when they welcome Portsmouth for their game in hand on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

The fixture has been rearranged twice due to clashes with EFL Cup and Champions League matches but gives both sides the chance to build on away wins at the weekend.

Wolves can go fifth if they can follow up Friday night's victory at Burnley with another three points, while Pompey could go level on points with Wanderers and climb into the top-10 if they can repeat Saturday's 1-0 win at Norwich.

• Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portsmouth last faced one another in the 2009-10 Premier League season, when Pompey completed a league double over Wolves.

• Portsmouth are unbeaten in six league meetings with Wolves (W3 D3) since a 3-2 loss in January 2002.

• Wolves lost their last home league game 1-3 to Bolton, but haven't suffered successive home defeats in the Championship since February 2017 (3 in a row).

• Portsmouth are winless in seven away league games against newly relegated opponents (D3 L4) since a 3-2 victory at Reading in League One in October 2023.

• Portsmouth have won just one of their past 15 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) away league games (D2 L12), beating Charlton 3-1 in February.

Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto spoke to BBC Radio WM after their win against Burnley.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.