Vitor Pereira has repaired a broken club - now the big test comes for Wolves

There were some vitally important goals during a Premier League season of two halves for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Matheus Cunha’s stoppage time equaliser at Brighton is up there, as was his brace against Southampton, Jorgen Strand Larsen’s winner against West Ham was a big one as well.

But it’s arguably one that went against Wolves that had the biggest impact on them securing their top-flight status for a seventh consecutive season. When Jack Taylor’s 94th minute header sparked wild scenes of celebration in the Ipswich end, few could have predicted the transformative effect it would have on the side conceding it.

Had Wolves left that game against Ipswich with a draw, there is a question over whether Fosun would have finally put Gary O’Neil out of his misery. With fellow strugglers Leicester up next, there may have been a case to give him one more week.

Defeat meant that was no longer an option.

The scenes following the final whistle - with players fighting between themselves and Cunha taking it upon himself to confront Ipswich staff - were indicative of a team, a club and a fanbase seemingly broken beyond repair.

The rapid-fire nature of Vitor Pereira’s appointment did little to ease fears that, after circling the relegation drain, this would finally be the year Wolves slipped through it. Pereira’s CV is a difficult one to read, big clubs, titles, but punctuated by short stints and high-profile fall outs.

But he immediately added the kind of calmness that had been so sorely lacking. And after a career waiting for his chance in the English top flight, he immediately set his sights on what he wanted to achieve.

“The beautiful thing in football is the things we haven’t created yet. Football for me is about being surprised,” he said in his first press conference.

He immediately managed to surprise his new supporters as he recorded back-to-back wins to begin his tenure, first dismantling a direct rival in Leicester, before beating Manchester United in front of a fervent Boxing Day crowd at Molineux.

As well as the immediate impact on the pitch, he solved problems off it. Mario Lemina was swiftly removed from the first-team squad. The ex-captain had already lost the armband for his petulant meltdown at West Ham, but Pereira went one step further.

Then came the speculation regarding Matheus Cunha’s future. For much of January, the mercurial Brazilian was linked with a hatful of clubs looking to acquire one of the division’s most talented players. Pereira dealt with that admirably.

The new year kicked off with four straight league defeats, scoring one goal in the process, but the message remained the same. Where once there was panic, there was now an assured feeling that things would get better.

Emanuel Agbadou was quickly identified as the kind of central defender Wolves had been crying out for. But even the recruitment team must be a little surprised at just how quickly he has adapted to the Premier League, a commanding leader with the physicality Wolves were grossly lacking under O'Neil.

Cunha ended the January window scoring the clinching goal in a win over Aston Villa, signing his contract soon after. That could have been the end of the drama, but his red card at Bournemouth and subsequent four-game ban meant that was never the case.

However, instead of capitulating without their star player, Pereira ensured his team would become more organised, more difficult to beat and even more effective. After a draw with a resurgent Everton, Wolves have racked up five straight wins for the first time in the Premier League era, with Sunday's win at Old Trafford ensuring mathematical safety with five games to go - scarcely believable when O'Neil's side in old gold were conceding for fun, be it from open play or set pieces.

Thus, a new hero has been born. Pereira naturally draws comparisons with Nuno Espirito Santo. Both Portuguese, pragmatic in their style, but with a natural warmth and an affinity with supporters.

His ‘first the points, then the pints’ mantra has spread across Wolverhampton in rapid fashion. Banners, t-shirts, even cans of beer now don the message. Pereira being spotted in the city centre after recent wins has helped quickly develop a bond with a fanbase so desperate for something to cling on to.

The win at Ipswich was ultimately the clincher for Wolves and their Premier League survival. And the scenes at the full-time whistle could have scarcely been more different than against the same opposition four months previous.

In the end, it wasn’t even close. That is testament to the job done in the dugout, for a team - which at points - looked doomed.

Now the big test comes. Since Nuno’s departure in 2021, every manager has followed the same cycle. Positive signs, disillusionment with the board and ultimately an exit.

Bruno Lage went public with his frustrations, before Julen Lopetegui and O'Neil all did the same. Pereira has already endeared himself to supporters more than those three, but now he must have a similarly charming effect on those in the boardroom.

As has become customary, Wolves will lose players this summer. Matheus Cunha is a near-certainty, Rayan Ait-Nouri will attract attention, while Nelson Semedo could become the fourth captain to leave Molineux in two years.

This time has to be different for Wolves. Pereira has done the hard work. He has repaired not only a team, but a club, a fanbase and a city.

They will finish the season with the kind of momentum rarely seen by teams near the bottom for so long. Pereira has already said 17th is unacceptable, which it is. Wolves need to start looking up and back their manager to continue his transformation.

Fans question whether Fosun will live up to their side of the bargain. From battling the top six in their opening two seasons in the Premier League, it has been slim pickings since. That could change this summer. In fact, it has to.

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