Cesar Peixoto hails Wolves’ character and organisation after win against Stoke

Wolves head coach Cesar Peixoto praised his side’s character and organisation after they came from behind to beat Stoke 4-1 and continue their unbeaten start in the Sky Bet Championship.

Rodrigo Gomes scored twice before half-time at Molineux to cancel out Sam Gallagher’s stunning opening goal before Raul Jimenez and substitute Jordan James added the gloss to give the Portuguese his first home league win.

But it could have been very different after Sorba Thomas missed two excellent chances at 1-0.

“We conceded a goal but the reaction was very important for us,” said Peixoto.

“We showed personality and character to fight and after that, we scored four goals and could have scored more.

“We played well and were organised in terms of defensive organisation, and with offensive organisation we could have scored more.

“I talked to the players before the game to have the right shape and the right body language to bring our supporters to support us.

“We did that. The players showed character, personality and quality when we had the ball – they found the right spaces and we defended well, not conceding a lot of chances.”

Gomes scored twice less than 24 hours after Peixoto said he wants a left-footed right winger before the transfer window shuts.

“It’s important that Rodrigo has the confidence to play after playing a lot in pre-season,” added the Portuguese.

“Rodrigo is an important player because he works hard for the team, not only in his offensive game but also in his defensive organisation, helping the right-back a lot.

“Adam Armstrong can play there as well but I need Raul Jimenez to stay 100 per cent fit so I need Adam to manage his game time, not only the starting XI.”

Stoke manager Mark Robins accused his side of being “authors of our own downfall” after three straight defeats.

“We scored a brilliant goal then contrived to shoot ourselves in the foot,” he said. “We started really well and scored a ‘worldie’ and got our noses in front.

“We then had some really decent play, from the goalkeeper’s close kick all the way to Gallagher, who won a header and we got runners off him into the box.

“We started to gather momentum but then we decided to do something different.

“Instead of doing those things that got us success, we played it to Eric Bocat, who tried to take on a man and lost the ball in a really dangerous area and they had the weight of numbers to score.

“That changed the whole momentum because we gave them a second one and they hadn’t had to work for it.

“We’ve been the authors of our own downfall for the second week running.”

Gallagher curled a tremendous shot into the top corner from 25 yards in the second minute, but Gomes converted rebounds after 19 and 22 minutes.

The Portuguese attacker stabbed home after Viktor Johansson parried Jimenez’s effort after a heavy touch by Bocat.

Gomes then fired high into the unguarded net after Matheus Mane beat Ben Johnson and Gallagher before holding off Bosun Lawal and crossed.

Jimenez won and then despatched a 55th-minute penalty when he was impeded by Johnson at the far post challenging for Hugo Bueno’s corner.

James, who replaced Gomes in the 77th minute, swept home Fer Lopez’s pass from 12 yards inside Johansson’s left-hand post to seal victory.