Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves manager Rob Edwards speaking to BBC Sport: "It's a similar story to our recent games. We have been drawing at half-time in all six games since I arrived.

"The first goal is so important in games. After that we tried to open up more, made some changes, and after the second goal it's really difficult from there.

"At the moment we're probably getting different performances in training than out there. It does inhibit one or two a little bit more. There are a few who are feeling the heat and the pressure and it is affecting performance."

On teenager Mateus Mane: "He is beginning to look at home and he is someone who doesn't necessarily have the scars that one or two have at the moment, it was another promising performance."

On facing Liverpool and Manchester United after Christmas: "They are difficult games but exciting games as well. We look forward to the challenge. I have just said to the lads I am standing up and I'm ready to fight - and I need everyone else to be able to do the same."

Did you know?

• Wolves have the joint-fewest points ever by a side in their first 17 matches of a season in English league history, alongside Newport County in the fourth tier in 1970-71 and Sheffield United in the Premier League in 2020-21.

• Wolves have lost each of their last 10 matches in the Premier League, becoming just the fourth side to have done so in the competition, alongside Aston Villa in April 2016 (11), Norwich City in September 2021 (16), and Sunderland in September 2005 (20).

Listen to Edwards on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Wolves' performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Rob Edwards makes four changes with Wolves still looking for their first Premier League win of the season.

Jose Sa, Ki-Jana Hoever, Santi Bueno and Fer Lopez are all handed starts

Toti and Sam Johnstone miss out while Emmanuel Agbadou has joined Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations for and Yerson Mosquera is banned.

Wolves XI: Sa, Hoever, Doherty, S Bueno, Krejci, Wolfe, Andre, J Gomes, Lopez, Hwang, Strand Larsen

Subs: Johnstone, Tchatchoua, Pond, Olagunju, Rawlings, Gonzalez, Mane, Arias, Arokodare

Striker Igor Thiago wins his fitness battle and starts for Brentford.

The 12-goal forward was rated touch and go by boss Keith Andrews with a knock - missing the 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday - but will lead the line at Molineux.

Rico Henry, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Kevin Schade start but Jordan Henderson is only fit enough for the bench.

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Collins, Van Den Berg, Henry, Jensen, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Schade, Thiago, Lewis-Potter

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Henderson, Ajer, Damsgaard, Konak, Nunes, Donovan

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on whether Jeff Shi leaving Wolves will help the club.

Here are some of your comments:

Ian: Whether Shi's departure makes a difference or not will really depend on who has been in charge of the plans for Wolves. If Fosun's plan was to build a successful club, then Shi failed, and maybe a new face will make a difference. If the Fosun plan was to build a feeder club to supply the Premier League with talent, then we're just going to get more of the same. The only thing that Fosun need to be aware of is that both business models fail if we're in the Championship, so relegation could well be the trigger for the sale of the club.

Alex: Time for some clarity from our owners on where they want to take the club. The transfer policy, the investment strategy and an ageing stadium all need to be addressed.

Duncan: In my view, Jeff was sincere but naive and created an environment of mistrust. He didn't take responsibility for mistakes, was easily influence and hid when he needed to lead. This is an excellent step, but obviously needs a strong replacement.

Birchy: It's an interim appointment; we will see if they manage to get a chairman who is versed in football this time. Hopefully, they can appoint someone with experience to help us bounce back from the Championship.

Andy: Expect a more positive atmosphere today, but the longer term will depend on who is brought in over the next few weeks to run the place. This season is gone, but at least we want some sort of belief that we will get better.

Ben: Unfortunately, replacing one Fosun figurehead with another won't change our current trajectory. Wolves need an experienced chief executive who is capable of building a strategy befitting of the modern game. Sadly, I wouldn't trust Fosun to spot such a person if they slapped them in the face.

There are eight games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Newcastle v Chelsea (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Burnley

• Brighton v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Manchester City v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Brentford

• Tottenham v Liverpool (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Everton v Arsenal (20:00)

• Leeds v Crystal Palace (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v West Ham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Liverpool", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

What a miserable Christmas party the Wolves players must have had. They are not staying up - not a chance.

They pushed Arsenal close with their rearguard action at Emirates Stadium last weekend, but still lost in the end.

Rob Edwards needs something, anything, to go his way after five defeats from five games and maybe - just maybe! - he will get a crumb of comfort on Saturday.

The reason I say that is because Brentford's away record is woeful, with seven defeats and just one win in the Premier League so far.

I still think the Bees might nick it, but instead I am going for Wolves to get a point and bring a tiny bit of Christmas cheer to Molineux, although I am not sure how long it will last.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Jeff Shi's departure will appease the Wolves fans who have been calling for his sacking and blamed him for a lot of the club's problems.

It will be intriguing to see on Saturday if the news will have an effect on the Molineux atmosphere, which has been been one of division, with protests, abuse towards Shi and chants for Fosun to sell.

Yet, the accusation which some may level at the club is they have just swapped one Fosun staff member for another and not opened the role up externally - even if Nathan Shi is, so far, an interim replacement.

Supporters are keen for a fresh start - although Fosun have no plans to sell - and while they have got their wish for Shi to leave, the fans are still eager for more change.

How are you feeling about what has happened?

Will Shi's exit help - or make no difference - to the atmosphere at Molineux?

Get in touch with your views here

Henry Cowling
BBC Sport journalist

Bottom side Wolves continue their search for a first league win of the season when they welcome an out-of-form Brentford to Molineux on Saturday. BBC Sport looks at some of the key themes going into the match.

Wolves tightening up?

Wolves have now lost nine league games in a row, their most in Premier League history, and are guaranteed to be bottom of the table at Christmas. Nonetheless, they showed promising signs during their heartbreaking late loss to league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates last weekend.

The visitors restricted Mikel Arteta's side to two shots on target – the joint-fewest Wolves have faced in a Premier League game this season.

Arsenal have only had fewer shots on target in their 1-0 loss to Liverpool in August, while they failed to register any in the first half of a Premier League fixture for the first time this season.

It was a far cry from Wolves' leaky showing earlier this month at home to Manchester United, who ran riot at Molineux – winning 4-1 and recording 27 shots, with 10 on target.

Wolves will be hoping they can continue the defensive promise they showed last time out as they face a Brentford side who have scored just one goal in their past three league games.

Brentford dropping points

It was an all too familiar occurrence for Brentford last weekend as they relinquished a lead and dropped points.

Keith Andrews' side were heading for a sixth home league win of the season when Jordan Henderson struck with 20 minutes left to play but Dominic Calvert-Lewin rescued a point for Leeds.

Brentford have now dropped more points from winning positions than any other Premier League team. The Bees have let 13 points slip after going ahead over the course of the season so far.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Rob Edwards dismissed suggestions Wolves' unwanted records will impact his struggling squad.

If Wolves fail to beat Brentford at Molineux on Saturday they will equal the longest winless start to a Premier League season of 17 games - set by Sheffield United in 2020-21.

Their last top flight win came eight months ago against Leicester on 26 April and Wolves are bottom of the table with just two points.

Their nine straight league defeats is also a club record but Edwards, who replaced Vitor Pereira last month, will ignore the negative numbers.

"I wasn't aware of it [the 17 game record]," he said. "It's not great is it, but I haven't mentioned it and it's not something we'll go talking about all the time.

"We need to keep the lads believing a little bit and not be too negative around the place.

"They are all aware of the situation because there's no hiding from it. From the training and atmosphere around the place, it doesn't feel like it's all doom and gloom and it's all lost.

"It's not what I'm seeing on the training pitch and it's not what I saw in the game [a late 2-1 defeat at Arsenal] on Saturday. I can only go on what I see and feel - it doesn't look like it's affecting the boys in any way."

Flora Snelson
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford at Molineux (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the "desperately sad" loss of Wolves academy graduate Ethan McLeod, Edwards said: "Words fail me. We are all thinking of Ethan's family and friends."

• Edwards will have to make some changes for this game with Emmanuel Agbadou and Tawanda Chirewa away with Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup of Nations while Yerson Mosquera is suspended.

• Meanwhile, the Brentford game comes too soon for injured Hugo Bueno, which means there will be opportunities for young players.

• On 18-year-old forward Mateus Mane who set up Tolu Arokodare's equaliser at Arsenal last Saturday: "He's brave, he's direct and he'll take risks. They're all things we want from forward players".

• Despite the defeats, Edwards was pleased with the manner of his side's performances against title chasers Aston Villa and Arsenal: "It's a lot harder for me to sleep when we have a poor performance and we don't do things that we can control."

• Edwards praised Hwang Hee-chan's tactical understanding: "Walking off the pitch at half-time at the Emirates, he's giving me the half-time talk. All of the things I've been talking about with the staff, he's seeing. He's really intelligent."

• On Wolves' form at Molineux: "Our two best performances have come away from home. It hasn't got to be the world's best performance, but we have to show character, resilience and do the basics well."

• On the role of home fans: "Supporters haven't seen the team win in such a long time. It's down to us. We've got to show some belief, some intensity. I know then that supporters will come with us."

• On facing his former Wolves team-mate in Brentford boss Keith Andrews: "He was always going to be successful. It's not a shock - he's very intelligent. I'm looking forward to seeing Keith."

Listen to Rob Edwards speaking to the press on BBC Radio West Midlands

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

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United's 17-game winless start in 2020-21 - a Premier League record - has been under threat for a while and Wolves will equal the tally if they fail to beat Brentford at Molineux on Saturday.

It would be another milestone in an already wretched season which is expected to end in relegation.

They have been close to getting results since Rob Edwards replaced Vitor Pereira last month - notably at Aston Villa and Arsenal - but the run of nine straight defeats is a club record.

The visit of the Bees represents another chance to start the rebuild under Edwards, which will continue in January when the head coach is expected to try to move some players on.

Edwards hold his pre-Brentford news conference later on Friday and it will feel like Groundhog Day at Compton. Wolves' situation has not changed and the questions will focus on the winless record, how to avoid it and January transfers.

Since he joined five weeks ago there has been an upturn in some performances, but the overriding atmosphere in the fanbase is still one of division and frustration.

Before the last home game - a 4-1 defeat by Manchester United - many supporters boycotted the opening 15 minutes to protest against the running of the club.

That has not gone away and Edwards still needs to united the fans and club - a win on Saturday would go some way to doing that during a desperate time.

Come back to this page later on Friday for all the key lines from Edwards.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Edwards could not contain a laugh at the first question in the radio interview room at Emirates Stadium last Saturday: "What were you feeling when the winner went in?"

Both the question and his response though, were entirely appropriate. Edwards has smiled quite a lot to the media since returning to Wolves, but it would be a mistake to think that this is a sign of unseriousness.

As he reminded everyone at his pre-match news conference on Friday, he "left a really good job to come here," pointing it out not to elicit sympathy, but to underline just how much of his reputation he has staked on doing a good job.

In a sport where angry criticism is so rarely held back, choosing to walk towards the fire is a major undertaking.

Adopting a mournful tone every time he appears in public would not help. Bringing the squad he has inherited to a point where they can restore personal and collective pride will first require lifting hearts within the dressing room.

Seeing the absurdities in their position – and two points at this stage, for an established Premier League club, is absurd – is not unhealthy. It was probably a good way to cope after Wolves' most organised and disciplined performance for months still brought no reward.

Just when the players apparently had a clear view of what they were trying to do, fortune poked them in the eye.

Result notwithstanding, the travelling supporters seemed to have had their spirits lifted. The players appeared to be comprehending the tasks they had been assigned and the commitment required to complete them. Some reminders, Edwards admitted, had been spelled out after the collapse against Manchester United.

Rui Pedro Silva's return to the coaching staff can only have helped. The away fans were impressed. The Molineux audience now deserves the same show at home.

It is for those above Edwards and his staff to account for how the club came to this point in the first place. I've consumed a great deal of podcast and online commentary on BBC Radio WM's interview with Jeff Shi and Matt Jackson last week, almost all of it at a similar tone.

There is little left to add other than that there are some updated commitments on the record now, and while the routes to fixing Wolves' problems may be costly for the owners, the penalty for not fixing them will be greater, both in finance and in reputation.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Brentford at 15:00 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio WM (DAB Black Country)

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

Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Former Wolves academy player Ethan McLeod has died in a car accident on the M1 while travelling back from a game on Tuesday night.

McLeod, 21, had been returning from Macclesfield's National League North match at Bedford Town, where he came on as a substitute, when the accident occurred near Northampton at around 22:40 GMT.

Prior to joining the Silk Men, McLeod spent 10 years in Wolves' academy, joining at the age of seven and signing professional terms, featuring for the under-21s in the EFL Trophy before leaving in September 2024.

Wolves said, external they were "heartbroken by the tragic passing" and offered their "thoughts and love" to his family, friends and everyone at Macclesfield.

The club are also supporting Ethan's younger brother Conor, who is part of Wolves' Under-21 squad, and will observe a minute's silence before Saturday's first-team fixture against Brentford.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Several questions were sent in via our 'Ask about Wolves' form about where the club stand financially in terms of PSR should they have to sell players at reduced levels in the future.

BBC Sport's football reporter Nick Mashiter has answered:

"Executive chairman Jeff Shi has played down the financial burden of relegation - which seems inevitable with winless Wolves bottom of the Premier League with two points from their opening 16 games.

"In terms of complying with profit and sustainability rules Wolves are confident it will not be an issue.

"They made a pre-tax loss of £14.3m in their accounts to the year ending 31 May 2024 - massively reduced from £67.2m in 2023.

"That was helped by Matheus Nunes' £53m move to Manchester City and the £47m sale of Ruben Neves to Al-Hilal.

"With a £46.1m loss the year before that Wolves have made a net loss for three consecutive years totalling £127.6m.

"That is over the £105m clubs are allowed to lose across a three-year period, to comply with PSR, but that is before add backs - investment into the club's infrastructure and women's team, for example.

"Wolves' financial year for 2025 was extended to 30 June, meaning the sales of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City in June - which banked over £90m - will count towards their next accounts.

"Although the spending money for Rob Edwards in January is likely to remain tight as Wolves try to plot an improbable escape from relegation."

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Emma Milton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Only Wolves could score three goals and still lose. When you are bottom of the table, nothing seems to go in your favour. Every deflection drops the wrong way, every tight call goes against you and every mistake is punished. Two own goals at the Emirates felt like the perfect storm of bad luck.

Being proud of a Wolves performance is a strange feeling this season. Against league leaders Arsenal, Wolves played like relegation was more than just a 'technical term'. They showed desire and fight. They were organised and accountable - something we have not always seen so far.

Two things might explain the step up.

First, the arrival of Rob Edwards' assistant, Rui Silva. It looks a smart appointment and there are already signs he is making an impact. It is no coincidence we suddenly look more organised. After just a week, everyone seemed to know their job. Wolves were less wasteful on the ball, had more structure and showed better positional sense defensively.

Secondly, Wolves often look freer away from home, without the weight of expectation that comes with Molineux. That extra freedom showed at the Emirates.

Yes, recent performances have deserved criticism. But any sports psychologist will tell you that constant negativity does not create positive results. During the game, the job is simple: get behind the team. The analysis and accountability can come after the final whistle.

One of the brightest sparks at the Emirates was Matheus Mane. At just 18, he embraced the current Wolves motto: fear nothing. He came on and played like he was in the playground, just having fun. He ran at Arsenal's defence, demanded the ball and was buzzing to grab an assist. His energy and confidence could be infectious. He does need careful managing, as he is still growing physically, but he is definitely one to watch.

This performance was a world away from the horror show against Manchester United. A different kind of pain, yes, but a far more promising one.

If Wolves can replicate that hard-working, disciplined display, the fans will back them. Rob now has something real to work with; the next step is turning it into points.

Find more from Emma Milton at Always Wolves, external

Manchester City have no desire to sell 23-year-old England goalkeeper James Trafford in January amid interest from Wolves. (Football Insider), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Arnie: Arsenal will need to learn how to break a defensive set-up down. Other teams will see this and follow suit. Very lucky.

Mick: As much as I rate Eze as a player, he is just not doing it at the moment despite his hat-trick against Tottenham. Arteta has to play him in the position he played at Palace instead of pushing him out wide to accommodate others or use him as an impact player later in games.

Barry: Last week, beaten in last second and deserved something. This week, won in the last minute, didn't play well, and Wolves deserved something. That's football - very lucky, but we will take it and move on.

Ayron: Quite simply, we are too slow in moving the ball. More energy and urgency required all over the pitch.

Vince: Winning without playing well - that's what champions do. But the team looked tired and bereft of ideas when Wolves parked the bus. They kept looking to the right for Saka to do something magical and that's not sustainable.

Wolves fans

Spencer: At last a performance you could believe in - even though we scored all three goals and still lost. This can only help the fans and the players to be more positive in an otherwise awful season. We can now see certain players are fighting and showing some passion and that's all we want as fans (if we can't get the victories). Dare I think we have turned a corner?

Michael: Our best performance of the season. We have clear deficiencies in all areas, and a distinct lack of quality, but they were organised and worked hard. Going down but hopefully with a fight.

David: So, we've still not shaken off the nightmare curse of this hellish season but at least we've shown we can offer some fight and win respect with a more ordered defensive set-up and a massive change in attitude and self-belief. Please let this be rock bottom and let there be some light coming from our darkness to justify our club motto. Surely if we can get this close to the 'mighty Arsenal' there must be some more goals and even wins in there somewhere?

Peter: Given the context of the game, it was a gallant performance by Wolves that mirrored their excellent display at Aston Villa. However, it's time to rest Strand Larsen and start with Tolu Arokodare, who currently shows more control, strength and goal threat. The experienced Doherty did an excellent defensive job, astutely guarding the far post - an area which is frequently neglected to Wolves' cost.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Rob Edwards has dismissed fears Wolves' wretched season will wreck his players' World Cup hopes.

The winless strugglers are bottom of the Premier League with just two points after a narrow 2-1 defeat by league leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

Joao Gomes has not played for Brazil since March while Norway's Jorgen Strand Larsen has just one Premier League goal this season.

South Korea's Hwang Hee-Chan has started just five league games this season while Ladislav Krejci holds ambitions with the Czechia, who are in the play-offs, and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde has qualified with Haiti

Santiago Bueno [Uruguay] and Jhon Arias [Colombia] are also hoping to go to the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada next year.

"There's been one or two who aren't playing saying: 'How can I get into the team? I need to play because there's a World Cup," Edwards said.

"But I don't think there's any of them thinking that [they will not go to the World Cup] because of the position we're in. They're still playing Premier League football. If they're at their level and doing their thing then there's no reason why they can't get selected for their national teams.

"There's no-one that's approached me because of the situation we're in."

Edwards also eased fears Wolves - who have not won in the Premier League since April - would look to sell off their best talent in January if they were preparing for relegation.

"That's not been communicated to me at all," he said. As I see it at the moment I don't think we're in that kind of position where we would have to be selling any of the 'better ones'. I don't think that's the case."

But the head coach confirmed Wolves are looking to move some players on as they look to recruit more Premier League experience next month.

He added: "It'll work both ways, there will be some people who will move on in January and we can freshen up. We need that, we can all see it.

"We're getting closer to a period of time where maybe we can make some changes."