Wolves Fans' Verdict v Leicester: A vital win

John Lalley

Can’t stress too much the pivotal importance of this result. But getting carried is a non-starter. 

The overwhelming priority remains, which is to salvage something from the rubble of this season. 

Leicester’s deficiencies were glaringly exploited but that’s their problem and very much to our credit. Wolves facing the pressures of a game they could ill-afford to lose, rose to the occasion and finally buried the hoodoo of this stadium. 

More than most places, Wolves have suffered an excess of frustration from questionable decisions at the King Power, so this result is deeply satisfying. That said, far more challenging opposition – starting on Boxing Day - lies ahead, but it would be churlish in the extreme not to acknowledge the immediate impact of Vitor Pereira on this game. 

He won’t be deluding himself thinking that he has any special transformational powers, but he will be pleased with exerting sufficient influence from the outset to provide a structure and a sense of organisation to the team. The Portuguese allegiance saw the liberation of Goncalo Guedes who was simply outstanding. 

Criminally underused in recent weeks despite the energy and subtlety he has shown as a belated substitute, he might just be on the verge of fully unveiling his substantial range of talent. His goal, the result of a delightful assist from the captain Nelson Semedo. 

Rodrigo Gomes, a peripheral figure all season, weighs in with his first goal for the club. Jose Sa, angry and troubled of late, returns and keeps a clean sheet with genuine authority. Toti Gomes despite losing his balance and presenting a great chance for Vardy, has the presence of mind to recover rapidly and prevent a certain score with a clearance off the goal-line. 

This Iberian synergy might just be a coincidence, but it could prove to be significant. We were desperate for a fresh outlook and realistically we remain in deep trouble, but spirits have undeniably been lifted.

Clive Smith

Let's enjoy that. We might not be challenging for Europe but the win, the score, the points, much of the performance, and the atmosphere made it a grand day out.

How different did we look, well we've not turned into world beaters (Leicester were not very good), but there appeared a few tweaks that made us look better.

Sa commanded his box, leaving his line like he'd downed a red bull. On set pieces there looked an overall determination to get to the ball first. That was certainly good for the nerves and gave the team a higher degree of confidence.

Although there was still some moves that were started by, playing out from the back, there were less, an instant crowd-pleaser! With Rodrigo and Semedo's starting position far more advanced, and wider, it encouraged a more front-foot approach. This was reflected by the number of long balls played to willing runners Rodrigo and Guedes - both managing to make full use of these passes. Along with Cunha's strike, it made for an amazing half-time score.

The score obviously shaped how the second half panned out. Other than Toti's goal-line clearance in the first half, Leicester never looked like scoring. Our 'game management', which included some ole's, even saw us have chances to add to our score - Gomes and Bueno in particular wasted a couple of chances.

With Ndidi missing for Leicester it meant Gomes and MOTM Andre could control midfield, which they did. Meanwhile Rodrigo also took his chance to impress, a few wasted passes, but still his best overall game and he looked so delighted to have scored too.

A new manager bounce perhaps, let's hope it works equally well at home for a few months.

Merry Christmas.

Matt Gallimore

As managerial debuts go, I'd say that was the perfect day. Three goals, first clean sheet in 16 away games, crowd singing your name and most importantly three points.

Just over a week ago we were told that everything within the group, to no avail, had been tested to achieve clean sheets and to try and win football games.

Vitor Pereira rocks up, and three days later we look more assured, more composed, more organised and more disciplined.

It's marvellous what having a proper manager can achieve. I have always maintained that this group of players is better than what it was showing but it needed all of the above to change the painful decline we had witnessed for far too long.

Yes, there will be much bigger tests ahead than a very poor Leicester side, but this game gave us the hope, optimism and belief that we are better than at least three other sides in this league. And that is now what this season is all about, just making sure we avoid relegation.

As for on the pitch, it felt like a throwback to the Nuno days. Lots of Portuguese on display, threatening on the counter, well organised and a crowd that was enjoying themselves again and showing love for the boss.

Sa was much more controlled, Doherty performed well, Andre finally showed what he is capable of, Joao Gomes with his consistent eight out of 10 display, Strand Larsen with a proper centre forwards showing, Cunha being Cunha and running the show, Rodrigo Gomes running everywhere and Guedes with a performance of huge promise. It was a good day's work.

More big games ahead but this was a promising start to VP's reign.

Finally, I'd like to wish every Wolves fan and their family a very Merry Christmas and hopefully we get our wishes come true, another three points on Boxing Day.

Harry Lee

The perfect start to the Pereira reign. 

If the new manager could have handpicked his first fixture, then Leicester would have been high up on the list, but a reinvigorated Wolves team execute the game plan with precision and a clinical edge. 

With only a few days with the squad you could see what Vitor Pereira had been working on, with not too much change in formation but a clear change in style, often a flat three in defence with Doherty, Bueno and Toti with the energetic Rodrigo Gomes and Semedo hugging the touch line. 

Starting three out and out attackers was a statement of intent, with Guedes joining Cunha and Larsen up top.  It paid off instantly with a great finish for his goal and an assist to add to it.  

Guedes clearly offers end product, and we are going to need it with the incoming ban for Cunha looming. 

Team selection would suggest a Portuguese preference, potentially easier to get his message across to those players in a native language in such a short space of time, hopefully Pereira can settle on a first XI so they get use to each other’s movements. 

Make no mistake, Wolves need help in January with much tougher tests to come, a centre back is a must, potentially two, with the defence still looking shaky in moments throughout the game. Let’s hope that those signings can come in early in the window for maximum impact.

Liam Berry

Vitor Pereira has kicked off his Premier League career with an emphatic win away against Leicester, 3:0. 

A great start for the new manager, with the performance showing what we have missed for the entirety of the season so far, which is the ability to see out and kill a game. The Wolves side have been labelled as an emotional team, but yesterday showed a professional performance, and probably the most well rounded 90 minutes of the season so far. I was impressed with how we approached the second half, not allowing Leicester to gain momentum and find a way back into the game. We also did not sit back and allow our opponents close to our box, so it’s very good signs.

A standout for me was Goncalo Guedes. With Matheus Cunha facing a looming ban, all attention turns to Guedes to be the main man up front alongside Jorgen Strand Larsen. I was impressed with his willingness to run for the team and find the spaces to hurt the Leicester back line. Thats now five goals and four assists this season in such little minutes. Hopefully a start of a good patch of form for Guedes as we will need him in Cunha’s potential absense.

Very happy for Vitor, however he has a lot more work to do to be regarded as a success this season, it’s a great result but he needs to replicate this and pick up some points in the upcoming tough run of fixtures, with Man United at home a perfect chance for us to have a good go against a team who are struggling as well.