Wolverhampton Wanderers

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

Rodrigo Gomes' goals against Stoke highlighted the growing range of attacking options available to César Peixoto.

He was the obvious hero of Wolves' 4-1 win over Stoke, scoring twice in three minutes to turn an early setback into a platform for victory.

Raúl Jiménez's penalty added a third before Jordan James completed the scoring on his home debut.

Fer López was also involved in the moves that led to the goals, underlining the broader point for Peixoto that Wolves are beginning to find goals and decisive moments from several players, rather than relying on one experienced striker.

Jiménez's leadership, movement and penalty-taking can help Wolves in their push for promotion. However, their hopes of returning to the Premier League will depend on the players around him chipping in.

Across their opening three Championship games, Wolves have scored nine goals. Six players have contributed: Gomes and Fer López have two each, Jiménez has two, both penalties, while James, Adam Armstrong and Marshall Munetsi have one apiece.

That spread matters. Wolves cannot build a promotion campaign around Jiménez alone, even if his experience is a valuable asset. The Championship is too demanding, and too long, for one forward to carry the attack every week.

The early signs are encouraging. Wolves have taken seven points from three matches and remain unbeaten. Against Stoke, they responded to Sam Gallagher's second-minute opener by scoring twice before half-time.

They also created enough to deserve the result. Wolves finished with 18 shots, eight on target and 53% possession. Their expected-goals total was 2.64, compared with Stoke's 0.88.

The figures show that Wolves are already finding goals from across the team, but they also explain why Peixoto remains keen to strengthen before the transfer window closes.

Gomes and James made important contributions against Stoke, yet another attacking option would give Wolves greater depth and more flexibility during the promotion race.

There are still reasons for caution. Wolves conceded early again, and the scoreline should not hide the periods when Stoke found space. Peixoto must improve their control and make sure this attacking variety survives injuries, tiredness and tougher opponents.

Jiménez may remain central to Wolves' promotion hopes, but he is no longer carrying the full attacking responsibility. Gomes, López, James, Armstrong and Mane have all shown they can contribute, giving Peixoto a wider range of options.

Even so, the manager still wants to strengthen before the transfer window closes, which could add further depth to Wolves' promotion push.

The Stoke win was encouraging not because one experienced player delivered, but because several players did.

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

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Peter: While the win was comfortable enough against poor opposition, Wolves' defensive inadequacies would have been punished by a better side and should be a concern for new boss Cesar.

Sorba Thomas fired in a string of dangerous crosses from the left but Wolves failed to respond tactically to the threat by closing him down. A good start to the season from Wolves but sterner tests are on the way.

Mike: Another comfortable victory after the opening shock. Wolves had far too much in midfield and going forward for Stoke. If the defence can do their job and keep the opposition quiet, Wolves should have far too much for most teams in this league.

Rob: Finally, a game when they did themselves justice. Djiga, Lopez and Munetsi were better than I have ever seen them and a return to form for Gomes with his fine poaching was very welcome. Some glimmers of a return to form for Mane similarly, and it's needed for him as Chirewa and James are showing some great promise in their brief appearances.

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Stoke City fans

Richard: I'm getting tired of hearing how good they were in training - but come match day we get school boy errors at the back and they're plainly not fit!

Rob: Robins has to go I'm afraid. Nothing has changed since the disastrous end to last season, and the stats don't lie. The run of successive defeats is utterly embarrassing, and the excuses are becoming increasingly pathetic. This club urgently needs yet another change before it's too late.

Anthony: A poor side who struggle to play attacking football. The manager makes some strange choices and it will be his downfall and not before time. And Walters too. No idea how to run a football team.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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West Ham's move for Wolves' Ladislav Krejcí is likely to fail.

The Hammers wanted to bring the defender - who can also play in midfield - to the London Stadium but it is understood Krejci does not want to play in the second tier.

Wolves would also not entertain selling him to a direct Championship rival.

Leeds were also interested this summer but have signed defenders Nico Elvedi and Tarik Muharemovic instead.

Krejci, 27, joined Wolves last summer, initially on loan from Girona before the move was made permanent, and made 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice, as they were relegated from the Premier League.

He made a late substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup win over Port Vale earlier in the month but is yet to feature in the league for boss Cesar Peixoto this season.

Wolves would like the Czechia international to stay beyond Tuesday's transfer deadline.

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Sasa Kalajdzic has left Wolverhampton Wanderers for Austrian club LASK.

The 6ft 7in striker joined Wolves for a reported £15m fee in 2022 but suffered a long-term knee injury on his competitive debut, against Southampton.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 away win at Everton in August 2023 but was unable to stay fit for the majority of his time at Molineux.

He spent last season on loan at LASK and re-joins the club, which will be playing Champions League football this season following their 5-1 victory in the final qualification round against Celtic on Tuesday.

Wolves have rejected a £3.5m bid from Anderlecht for midfielder Boubacar Traore. The 25-year-old has also been linked with Portsmouth. (Express & Star), external

Find more of Friday's EFL gossip here.

Defeat for Stoke at Molineux on Saturday (12:30 BST) would see them lose their opening three games of a league season for the first time in 16 years.

Wolves were 3-1 winners at Preston last weekend to record their first away win in the league since April 2025 when they won at Manchester United.

• Wolverhampton Wanderers have lost each of their past three league games against Stoke City, with this set to be their first since April 2012 in the Premier League (lost 2-1 away).

• Stoke City have won two of their past four away league matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers (D1 L1), as many victories as across their prior 27 visits (D11 L14).

• Wolves could draw four home league games in succession for the first time since April 2016, while after drawing with Blackburn in their opener, they are trying to avoid failing to win either of their opening two home matches of a second tier campaign for just the third time this century after 2004-05 and 2015-16.

• After losing their opening two league games this season, Stoke will be hoping to avoid losing their opening three fixtures of a league campaign for the first time since 2010-11 in the Premier League which included a 2-1 away loss to Wolves.

• Wolves' Adam Armstrong has only played more league games in his career without scoring against Fulham (11) than Stoke City (10 apps).

Celtic are understood to be considering a move for experienced Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, 33. (Mail), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Ki-Jana Hoever has joined Sparta Prague for an undisclosed fee on a "multi-year deal".

The 24-year-old Dutchman joined Wolves from Liverpool in September 2020. He made 33 appearances in all competitions but spent much of his six years with the club out on loan.

He had a brief spell back in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven, two separate stints at Stoke City, and also had loans at Auxerre and Sheffield United.

"When you're not in a rhythm of playing regularly it's tough. You return from a loan and you're not fully part of it, so he's suffered," technical director Matt Jackson told the club website., external

Aadam Patel
Football reporter

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Ruben Neves says he still has one eye on Wolves as they look to return to the Premier League.

Neves, 29, captained the side during his six-year spell at Molineux before moving to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

"Every time I can, I still watch Wolves. It's one of my favourite teams. Since I was there, I loved it and I have a lot of friends there," he said.

"I watched the game against Port Vale in the EFL Cup (which they won 3-0) so I'm very happy and I'm sure they will do very good in the Championship."

In Neves' first campaign at Wolves in 2017-18, the Portuguese midfielder won the Player of the Season award as they won the Championship title under Nuno Espirito Santo.

"It reminds me of my first season there and I hope they come back to the Premier League as soon as possible," Neves added.

His Al-Hilal side have got off to a good start, winning their opening two league games in the Saudi Pro League. They last won the title in 2023-24 and are closing in on signing both Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal and Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa.

On his personal ambitions, Neves said: "I play for the biggest team in Asia so our main goal is to win every single trophy we play for so for me, that's the most important."

Wolves midfielder Fer Lopez believes a loan spell with Spanish side Celta Vigo has made him "more prepared for football".

The Spaniard has scored three goals in as many appearances this season, including a double in Saturday's 3-1 win at Preston.

Lopez struggled to adapt after arriving at Molineux last summer in a £19m deal and returned to his former club on loan for the second half of the season.

The 22-year-old said he chose playing time over financial incentives when choosing to move back home, and went on to make 23 appearances for the La Liga side, scoring twice.

"It was the best decision I could have made, especially to Celta because I knew I was going to play," he told BBC Radio WM.

"I went there, to Spain, losing money. There were some teams that (would) pay me double, but I think that at this age playing football is the most important thing, so it was the best decision I could have made.

"I think it shows now that I'm quicker, I'm stronger, I'm more prepared for football because the only thing I needed was minutes."

Emma Milton
Fan writer

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Wolves' 3-1 win at Preston was about more than three points. It ended a 489-day wait for an away league victory and gave supporters a much-needed reason to enjoy their Saturday.

It was marvellous to see around 5,600 Wolves fans at Deepdale in full voice from the first whistle. Their support reflected the importance of the occasion, but it also raised the standards expected of this team.

The first half was not always comfortable. There were moments when Wolves looked uncertain and Preston caused problems. However, after the break, something began to change. The players appeared more relaxed, passed the ball with greater purpose and started to play their own game.

That is what made the performance encouraging. Wolves did not simply score and retreat. They continued to attack, pressed higher and showed more belief in the style Cesar Peixoto is trying to build.

"Today we didn't lose our identity, and we didn't lose our organisation, for 90 minutes at a good level," Peixoto said afterwards.

That identity is still developing, but there were clear signs of progress at Deepdale. Wolves looked more cohesive in possession, and their attacking movements had greater purpose. They are not producing that level of football consistently yet, but the pieces are beginning to fit. This team still has plenty of room to improve.

Fer Lopez was the standout player, scoring twice and showing the confidence to find space and take responsibility. Marshall Munetsi was exceptional, mopping up defensively while pressing aggressively, and Andre was typically composed. Tommy Doyle also looked solid after coming on.

We did not see much of Jordan James, but his quality on the ball and intelligent runs suggested Wolves may have found an excellent addition. Even Boubacar Traoré offered something different during his brief cameo, pointing to a midfield with plenty of promise.

There is also plenty to look forward to in attack. Adam Armstrong made an immediate impact after coming on, combining well with Raul Jimenez before scoring. The prospect of seeing more of that partnership is exciting, especially as their understanding improves.

This was a welcome step forward, but Wolves' confidence remains fragile. One poor result could bring back some of the doubts lingering from last season.

Still, supporters left Deepdale with something to build on. Wolves are beginning to relax, trust their football and show glimpses of their identity. Wolves have the potential to offer much more, so the next challenge is to make those moments the norm rather than the exception.

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Adam Cottier
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter

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Fer Lopez was the conqueror of all who challenged him - or did not - at Deepdale.

The 22-year-old appeared to be the main protagonist in a stylish and promising 3-1 win against Preston for Wolves on Saturday.

Their first away league win for 16 months was born from sheer footballing ability.

Wolves were technically better than Preston in all areas and that was exhibited by Lopez when he spun on halfway and ran unchecked in the eighth minute, so badly unchecked that you could foresee the outcome - a goal with a finish of the highest quality from the Spaniard's left boot.

Only Daniel Iversen in the Preston goal kept Wolves from scoring more.

The visitors - backed by close to 6,000 of their fans - were vibrant when they needed to be.

Their second goal was created by the sharp, quick thinking Adam Armstrong who ran in to just the right spot, having just come on to the pitch, to convert Raul Jimenez's splendid return pass to him.

But it was Lopez who tormented Preston the most and he was too clinical for the beleaguered home side in sweeping in the third.

Lopez has had an outstanding start to the season.

Following relegation, Wolves needed players to stand up and be counted and Lopez led that particular charge on an encouraging afternoon in Lancashire for his team.

How they need such days after the deflation of last season.

Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto declared himself pleased with his side's performance as they earned their first league win of the season.

Fer Lopez's double and a goal from substitute Adam Armstrong saw Wolves end their 489-day wait for a win on the road as they beat Preston 3-1 at Deepdale.

Peixoto told BBC Radio WM: "I'm happy with the performance, in the first half more difficult, a little bit more difficult, but we have the best chances.

"In the second half we managed well the pressure of the opponent and we played like I want with the ball - attract the team and expose the spaces.

"I think we can score more. I'm a little angry because we concede one goal and I don't want to concede one goal, I want a clean sheet. It's normal. But it was a good game for us.

"Congratulations for the players, thank you to our supporters because you help us to win these three points. A lot of people came to support the team. It's very important we stay together. The Championship is very tough and we need all the people around us to support and we need three points."

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Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Jose Sa is expected to be in the side for their game against Preston North End on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Portugal international, who has made 170 appearances for the club since signing in 2021, did not feature in either their opening day draw with Blackburn Rovers or their EFL Cup victory over Port Vale.

Dan Bentley had been favoured, however, the Englishman has since joined Coventry City, while fellow keeper Sam Johnstone is recovering from a shoulder injury.

Though boss Cesar Peixoto is expected to bring in a new goalkeeper before the end of the transfer window.

"Sa came later from the World Cup, Sam has a long injury and we need to find one solution more to the goalkeeper [situation]," he told BBC Radio WM.

The game against Preston could also see a debut for new signing Jordan James.

The midfielder joined on loan on Thursday and his experience with Leicester City last season could mean he has a quick introduction to the side.

"I think it's very important [with James' experience] because the adaptation to the Championship is fast," Peixoto said.

"He's a player who wants to improve and help us to a good season."