Wolves debrief: Portsmouth draw deepens Molineux concern

Wolves’ head coach is an honest sort. There are times when you wonder whether he is a little too frank.

While it is one thing to have suspicions a team is playing with anxiety and just maybe a little fear, it is another for the man in charge to effectively confirm them.

Any promotion challenge must be built on solid home foundations. At the moment, Wolves do not have those at Molineux.

What should be one of their biggest assets in the quest to secure an immediate Premier League return, playing in front of a vociferous crowd, is becoming a problem.

In five Championship matches at home, they have recorded impressive wins against Stoke and Albion, snatched a late draw against Blackburn, been beaten by Bolton and looked unconvincing against Portsmouth.

Rather than being driven on by the backing, this Wolves side appear a little cowed by the weight of expectation, with Peixoto later suggesting Tuesday’s first half no-show against Pompey was a direct consequence of the previous week’s chastening defeat to the Trotters.

At the same time, there are growing questions over whether the boss, through his ever-changing selections, is putting his players in the best possible position to succeed.

Starting XI struggled to fire

Peixoto was bullish in the aftermath when asked directly if he knew his best team.

The Portuguese insisted his decision to keep changing the line-up (there were three alterations on Tuesday night after six at Burnley on Friday) is necessitated by the hectic Championship schedule. His firm belief is Wolves will be stronger in the long run for the early season juggling.

That may well prove so but in the here and now, it would be difficult for the head coach to claim he started with the correct XI against Portsmouth.

After a first half in which his team failed to register a shot on target, the introductions of Jordan James and Tawanda Chirewa sparked an instant improvement.

Prior to Terry Devlin’s late equaliser, James looked like being the story of the night after his second goal since joining on loan from Rennes had put Wolves ahead.

The 22-year-old’s only Championship start came in the defeat to Bolton yet in matches where they are going to have the bulk of possession, such as Tuesday, he looks a better bet in midfield than the hard-working but slightly less refined Marshall Munetsi.

One area Peixoto is undoubtedly short of options is up front following the loss of Raul Jimenez.

Teenager Sean Neave, despite no lack of effort, did little to suggest he is ready to lead the line in a Championship team and while Chirewa added more spark, centre-forward is not his natural position.

Wolves, meanwhile, finished the match with Yerson Mosquera playing as a makeshift striker.

Peixoto hopes to have Adam Armstrong back for Saturday’s visit of Watford and it is becoming increasingly obvious Wolves need the 29-year-old, who has missed the last two matches with a back injury, to find some form and provide an attacking focal point.

Post-match incident hinted at rising pressure

The fact the next two matches are both at home is probably a good thing.

Perspective is always important. The season remains young and had Wolves squeezed out the win on Tuesday, they would have climbed to fifth in the table. There is still sufficient time to iron out the faults.

But if this season is to be a success, they need to start enjoying playing at Molineux. Right now that does not seem the case.

Many at Wolves describe Peixoto as among the most level-headed coaches they have ever worked with, yet the rising pressure on his shoulders was evident in the post-match argument with John Mousinho which both later confirmed he had instigated by telling the Portsmouth boss he “talked too much”.

That and the gloomy weather all added to the rather fractious mood which cannot be allowed to fester if Wolves are to achieve their minimum requirement of being serious challengers for automatic promotion.