Wolverhampton

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  1. 'Wolves need to turn dominance into more quality'published at 12:34 GMT 26 October

    Dazzling Dave
    Fan writer

    A black banner with 'Fan's Voice' written across in white lettering next to the Wolverhampton Wanderers club badge
    Hugo Bueno crosses the ball during Wolverhampton Wanderers' Championship match against Watford on SaturdayImage source, Shutterstock

    Wolves beat Watford 1-0 and a win is always welcome. But the performance left a familiar question hanging over the celebrations.

    If this side is meant to dominate the league and earn an immediate return to the Premier League, why does it still feel so hard to see the quality?

    The BBC's match stats tell part of the story. Wolves had 24 shots, but only three were on target. That is just 12.5% of their attempts. Taking shots is not the same as threatening the goalkeeper and too many Wolves attacks ended without making Watford work.

    This is becoming a familiar frustration rather than a one-off. Too often this season we have been waiting for Wolves' quality on paper to translate into quality on the pitch. Promising attacks lose their way and chances pass without the goalkeeper being tested.

    The Watford game brought three points, but little reassurance that those problems are being addressed. For a side expected to dominate this division and go straight back up, that gap between expectation and performance is becoming harder to ignore.

    It would be unfair to dismiss the win. Three points matter and Wolves showed enough persistence to find a way through.

    But supporters are entitled to expect more than a narrow victory built on a high volume of shots.

    A side with promotion ambitions should be making more of those moments count or at least forcing the opposition goalkeeper into more saves. One goal was enough to take the points, but it did not make the wider concern disappear.

    That does not mean every shot should fly into the top corner. It does mean choosing better opportunities, getting attempts on target and showing more composure when the game is there to be won.

    Wolves need to turn attacking spells into clear chances, not just a big number in the match statistics.

    The table will judge Wolves on results, but performances matter, too. If the aim is to go straight back up the standard has to look convincing, not merely good enough to scrape past Watford.

    This was a win and Wolves should take it. But the 24 shots and three on target are a warning. Until the quality starts showing where it matters most, supporters will keep asking whether this team is truly playing like promotion favourites.

    Find more from Dave at Always Wolves, external

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  2. Wolves have to start showing their teethpublished at 12:44 GMT 25 October

    John Bennett
    BBC Final Score reporter

    Cesar Peixoto applauds fans while talking to Wolves player Mateus ManeImage source, Shutterstock

    On paper, the win over Watford on Saturday should fill Wolves fans with plenty of positivity after a post international-break blip in form, but, for me, it brought up the big concern about this team - they're not clinical enough.

    The result should've been a lot more comfortable for the home side and the atmosphere in the second half should have been a lot less edgy and nervy. The stats say it all; 26 shots, just 1 goal.

    I was impressed with their flowing football at times, with the likes of Kieran Trippier, Jordan James and substitute Mateus Mane looking dangerous and there were so many attacking opportunities.

    However on countless occasions either the final shot, or more often than not, the final ball, let Wolves down.

    Plus, it's not a one off; in fact it's now 10 matches on the spin for Wolves without scoring more than two goals in a game. That's something that didn't cost them against a Watford side that offered very little, but it did last Tuesday when they conceded an 86th-minute equaliser at home to Portsmouth.

    Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty to be happy about from a Wolves perspective and it's to their credit that Watford were so toothless on Saturday.

    To add to that, it was also a weekend when a number of rivals, just above them, and just below them, dropped points.

    But in a tight promotion race, Cesar Peixoto's side have to find a way to be more clinical in front of goal, to avoid needlessly dropping points in games which they totally dominate.

  3. Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto reacts after win against Watfordpublished at 18:24 BST 24 October

    Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Cesar Peixoto spoke to BBC Radio WM after his side's 1-0 victory against Watford. For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

    Media caption,

    Peixoto: 'We dominated but should've scored more'