Wolverhampton Wanderers kicked off their new era under manager Vítor Pereira with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. Pereira, who replaced Gary O'Neil after four consecutive league defeats, could not have wished for a more successful debut.
The scoring began with Goncalo Guedes, who netted the opener in the 19th minute. A long ball from Nelson Semedo found its way through the Leicester defense, allowing Guedes to pounce and poke the ball past goalkeeper Danny Ward, who struggled to make the necessary stop.
Leicester’s woes intensified when Rodrigo Gomes doubled Wolves' lead just before half-time. The goal came after another defensive mix-up; James Justin failed to deal with Matt Doherty's long ball, allowing Gomes to take advantage and finish with composure as Ward rushed ineffectively to intervene. The home crowd, already disenchanted, responded with audible boos aimed at the beleaguered goalkeeper.
Matheus Cunha made it three for the visitors just minutes later, driving home from close range after being expertly set up by Guedes, who was pivotal throughout the match. Leicester managed to find the back of the net once, but veteran striker Jamie Vardy's shot was cleared off the line, providing just a flicker of hope for the home side before half-time.
The scoreline at the interval told the tale of two teams on vastly different wavelengths. While Wolves were invigorated by their newfound guidance under Pereira, the Foxes appeared lost and directionless. Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy was visibly frustrated, storming off the pitch at half-time, perhaps overwhelmed by the staggering 3-0 deficit.
Despite making two substitutions at the break with Wout Faes and Harry Winks entering the fray, Leicester’s second half brought little improvement. The team struggled to create meaningful chances, often passing the ball around the midfield without penetrating Wolves' defensive lines. The once-feared attacking trio of Vardy, Stephy Mavididi, and Boubakary Soumare appeared out-of-sync and lacked the clinical edge necessary to capitalize on their fleeting opportunities.
Wolves, on the other hand, seemed content to sit back and absorb Leicester’s efforts, relying on quick counter-attacks to maintain pressure. Vardy did manage to round the Wolves' keeper Sa during one of Leicester's more promising breaks, but his effort ended up hitting the side-netting, epitomizing the Foxes' rotten luck on the day.
A sense of deja vu enveloped the crowd, which grew increasingly frustrated, not only with the players but also with the tactics employed by Van Nistelrooy, who defended his team's performance nonetheless. "If you look only at the result... it was a very bad performance, but if you look at the goals, it was individual mistakes," he noted, highlighting the defensive errors Leicester succumbed to during the match.
The victory was invaluable for Wolves, lifting them to within two points of Leicester, who now hover precariously above the relegation places at 17th. This newfound hope came as Wolves will surely look to build on this momentum, particularly as they prepare for their next league fixtures over the festive period.
For Leicester, this result raises several questions moving forward. With Danny Ward facing heavy scrutiny from supporters following such glaring mistakes, whispers of discontent grew louder around the stadium. Van Nistelrooy's men will have to regroup quickly, lest they fall back toward the lower reaches of the table.
All eyes will be on how both teams respond to this result moving forward; Wolves must reinforce their newfound confidence, and Leicester must find resilience to stave off potential relegation fears.
