‘Really odd' - pundit crestfallen at Wolves decision issues intriguing Leeds United score prediction
Wolves face Leeds United in a pivotal match at the bottom of the Premier League table
Former Aston Villa and Birmingham City forward Chris Sutton claims Wolves have made an ‘odd’ decision by offering Vitor Pereira a new long-term contract after his team’s difficult start to the new campaign.
Wolves are yet to pick up a point from their opening four Premier League matches and have started the campaign with four successive defeats for the first time in their history. They were arguably the better side in the early stages of their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United and made a strong start, before slipping out of the contest after around half an hour when summer signing Nick Woltemade opened the scoring for the Magpies.
Nevertheless, Wolves owner Jeff Shi said earlier this month the club needed Pereira to remain. They’ve been impressed by the manner in which the Portuguese coach has led the club since taking over from Gary O’Neil, particularly towards the end of last season where he steered the club to safety in comprehensive fashion after a worrying run of performances.
Shi said: "Wolves need stability now - we need a coach to stay here and help us for a long time. Every coach needs time and the jigsaw to be made. We should give the coach enough time and the players he needs to prepare for the season.
"I feel the more important thing to define this season is the squad and the coach, the chemistry and the unity. If you have that foundation, you will have a strong season. If you don't, maybe you have a doubt. Before Vitor came the team chemistry had some problems. This year that issue is gone. We have a strong team spirit and a very committed team structure."
Chris Sutton shares Wolves by Leeds United prediction
Chris Sutton has backed Wolves to get their first win of the season against newly-promoted Leeds United. It’s a huge match at Molineux which already looks to have huge implications for the relegation battle and how it might pan out. The Whites earned an opening day victory against Everton but have picked up just one point from their three matches since that defeat.
Sutton expressed his bemusement at Pereira being offered a new contract, he told BBC Sport: “When I lost at predictions a few weeks running last season, I didn't get a call from the BBC offering me a new deal. Yet that is what seems to be happening with Wolves boss Vitor Pereira, which is really odd. They have already lost their first four league games, and if he loses the next four they will be calling for his head.”
However, he claimed that perhaps the decision will bring a new dawn to his team in the short term against Leeds. He added: “Wolves might feel they deserved something from their defeat at Newcastle last time out, after starting that game quite well, but that is nothing to how devastated Leeds will feel after losing out to a last-gasp own goal at Fulham.
“That left Leeds without a point or even a goal on the road, while Wolves are without a point at all, so something has to give here. Wolves are without the injured Jorgen Strand Larsen up front, which is a blow, but I am still backing them to win this one - maybe a new contract for Pereira will mean a new dawn for his team?”
Sutton predicted a 1-0 win for Leeds despite the absence of Jorgen Strand Larsen. The indie group The Coral, who are based in Birkenhead predicted a 1-1 draw while AI backed the Old Gold to secure a high-scoring 3-2 victory.
Wolves’ recent record against Leeds United
Wolves are without a win in their last four Premier League meetings with Leeds United, drawing one and falling to defeat on three occasions. However, they’ve had an excellent record against newly-promoted teams in recent times - winning eight of their last 10 against teams in their first year in the top-flight.
The Old Gold are hoping to avoid becoming just the sixth teams in history to record five consecutive defeats from the start of a Premier League campaign. Southampton in 1998-99 and Sunderland in 2005-06 both lost five, Portsmouth in 2009-10 suffered seven straight losses while Crystal Palace in 2017-18 also lost the same amount. Norwich City in 2021/22 started with six straight defeats.
Of those teams only Southampton and Crystal Palace evaded the threat of relegation. Comparably, the other three fare much worse - finishing bottom of the table.