Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, PA Media

One problem with 'dead' games at the end of the season - aside from the unsatisfactory description - is that the apparently low stakes leave too much time for wandering thoughts, reading things between the lines of the teamsheet that might not be there.

Hence, after the team news dropped at Selhurst Park, it was tempting to look for deeper meaning in it, especially bearing in mind that Vitor Pereira had said he would not be giving "gifts" of places in the team to fringe players as some sort of thanks for training patiently in the background.

"It is time to understand what they can give to us," Pereira told me afterwards, and that seems a perfectly sensible use of the last week of the season in the circumstances, notwithstanding the financial value of every position in the final table.

Players are scrutinised in training as never before, but the best way to measure the progress that, for example, Nasser Djiga has made since ing the club was to give him his first Premier League start. It is by no means certain that even the 'strongest available' team would have won anyway, against a confident Crystal Palace side.

Whatever Pereira learned about individual players, the past two games have at least indicated the scale of the work to be done to meet the ambitions he shares with the ers. As Pereira pointed out recently, their past three opponents of the season - Brighton, Palace and Brentford - are all in the bracket of clubs he believes Wolves should be capable of ing.

They have been quite comfortably outpointed by the first two. "They have tactical quality and they have very good players - that's why they did the season that they did and we must be in our best level," said Pereira in the Selhurst Park media room, regretting his team's mistakes.

These games, then, are 'dead' only in the sense of no overall jeopardy. For all the players given a rare opportunity, they are very much live - their best chance to show Pereira there is no need to buy a new starter in that position.

Could the manager really, as I heard it suggested later, have selected a team to make a point to his employers about the need to spend? It seems unlikely he would need to do that. But the past two games - and the league table, with 12 clubs now over 50 points - suggest the midfield group has become stronger this season, and catching up will require a busy summer.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Brentford at 16:00 BST on Sunday on BBC Radio WM [DAB Black Country]

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

We asked our Wolves fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.

Emmanuel Agbadou

What a difference Agbadou has made since arriving in January. He took command of the Wolves defence from day one, showing real leadership at the back. Calm as a cucumber, composed and in total control - he is a true Rolls-Royce of a defender. His strength and presence have been key to the team's turnaround. Agbadou's influence cannot be overstated. He has transformed the backline and lifted the whole side.

Joao Gomes

Known as "The Pitbull" for good reason, Gomes delivers every week, even when the team were struggling. His close control and fierce attitude make him a vital force in midfield. Aggressive and relentless in his pressing, Gomes is a nightmare to play against and stands out as one of the toughest opponents in the Premier League.

Matheus Cunha

Creativity, movement and sharp finishing - Cunha has been at the heart of Wolves' attacking threat. He scores crucial goals, links up play and can unpick defences with a moment of brilliance. Cunha's flair and drive have often been the difference-maker in tight games. His goals in the first half of the season were vital in keeping Wolves in the survival fight.

Nelson Semedo

Semedo has been Mr Consistent, stepping up to captain the side during tough times. He leads by example every time he plays. A classy, reliable presence at the back, he is rarely beaten by his opposite number. If Semedo leaves this summer, he will be missed deeply by everyone connected to the club.

Honourable mention

Andre. The Brazilian has been a fantastic addition, settling in quickly and making a real impact. He reads the game so well, cutting out danger and turning defence into attack in an instant. His partnership with Gomes has huge potential and deserves every chance to grow and prosper.

Pick your 2024-25 Wolves player of the season from our shortlist here

And tell us why you're picking who you are, or why you'd have gone for another player not on the list, here

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Wolves at Selhurst Park.

Here are some of your comments:

Palace fans

Al: A great night and a sad one. Great to get record points and Eddie Nketiah netting two goals. Romain Esse looks dangerous. Tears around the ground when Wardy went off in a final goodbye. He was so emotional. Just the champions to beat next at their home. We'll try to get 10th place and then next season begins at Wembley again.

Englebert: Great performance from the lads that didn't play in the final. Nketiah showing how good a striker he is, with great movement and finishing. Esse with a Zaha-esque run to set up the first goal. Franca and Devenny came on and impressed. Eze scored a simply class goal.

Phil: I feel sorry for Nketiah. Hopefully he will get more of a look-in next season. He is decent.

Rob: Party atmosphere from the first to the last minute continued from Saturday's FA Cup win. Great to see Wardy lead the team out for one last time under the lights at Selhurst Park, with an emotional speech at the end. It brings an amazing career and historic season to an end. A team of Joel Wards.

Mini: What fabulous momentum to end the season with. Here's hoping our stars stick with Palace, especially as we head into Europe.

Wolves fans

Scott: Poor and absolutely shocking. This was not a good performance. Give new players a chance for sure, but we didn't have any players who were good except for Strand Larsen. I'm not happy with the full-time scoreline. A poor performance on the pitch.

Kieran: What has happened? We clearly got complacent after the six-game run. We need to win on the final day and then move on from this inconsistent season.

Richard: Wolves had a long rest before this match but were out-fought and out-thought. I was surprised at Palace's intensity after their massive FA Cup win - they dominated in tackles and challenges. They were a level above. Wolves' defence parted in a way that I hadn't seen since Gary O'Neil's management. A shocking performance.

Mark: Typical end of season results. We are safe so the last few games are treated as warm downs or practice matches. End of season performances don't always translate into how the next season will go but we have been mostly poor over the past three or four seasons, twice having to change manager to avoid the drop. I hope it's not third time unlucky next season.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Vítor Pereira has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the defeat to Crystal Palace: "We cannot compete at this level if we offer gifts to them and, in my opinion, they [the goals] were four gifts.

"In the moment we had a chance to score to make it 3-3, we made another mistake and this is not possible. We must be focused until the last minute. We must be at our best level every time.

"I must speak about the team. As a team, we committed mistakes that we cannot commit. In this league, if you commit a mistake then they will punish you.

"The Premier League is not a league where we can come here to be a part of the party for them. We come here to compete for the three points."

Image source, Getty Images

After a seven-game unbeaten run (W6 D1), Wolves have lost their past three Premier League games. Vitor Pereira's side have conceded seven goals in that time, as many as in their previous nine matches.

Half of Jorgen Strand Larsen's 14 Premier League goals for Wolves this season have come since the beginning of March, with the Norwegian striker scoring more goals in the competition than any other player in that time.

Manchester United are set to proceed with paying Wolves' 25-year-old Brazil forward Matheus Cunha's £62.5m release clause in instalments. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have nothing but pride to play for this season as they sit 14th in the table and Vitor Pereira showed he had one eye on 2025-26 as he made five changes for this game.

To their credit, they did not play like a team whose mind might be on their summer holidays and instead pushed Palace hard for their win as Jorgen Strand Larsen's second-half header gave them something to fight for, until Eberechi Eze's introduction made the win save for the hosts.

Six successive wins pulled Wolves well clear of danger earlier this year but this was a third consecutive loss. and they will be determined to not let the season finish with a losing run when they host Brentford at the weekend.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Crystal Palace's performance

What did you make of Wolves' display?

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

There are two Premier League matches being played this evening, and you can follow every kick on BBC Sport.

• Crystal Palace v Wolves

• Man City v Bournemouth

Both kick-off times 20:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Manager of the year awards often go to coaches who lift major trophies, but Vitor Pereira's work at Wolves deserves real respect and recognition.

When he took charge in December, Wolves were in disarray. The team had just nine points, fans were fearing the worst, and relegation looked almost certain. Now, Wolves sit on the brink of a 14th-place finish with 41 points—something no one predicted just months ago.

Pereira made his mark almost straight away. Within days, Wolves picked up key results over the festive period. Suddenly, there was hope. The mood around the club shifted. The dread that used to hang over Molineux on matchdays has been replaced by genuine excitement and belief—fans now turn up thinking Wolves can beat anyone.

Key to this revival has been Pereira's leadership style. He tackled dressing room problems with honesty and restored the discipline that was missing. He was firm when needed, taking tough decisions to move on players like Mario Lemina and Craig Dawson, ensuring the squad stayed focused and united. His open communication style, especially with the Portuguese-speaking core, made the group feel understood and valued.

Pereira's tactical clarity also made a difference. He gave players clear roles and built their confidence, simplifying what had become an overcomplicated setup under his predecessor.

Off the pitch, he embraced the club's culture, quickly building a strong bond with the Wolves community. He never underestimated the importance of the fans, crediting their for pushing the team through difficult moments.

Most importantly, Pereira's calm, down-to-earth approach has inspired both players and ers. He has brought pride and unity back to a club that felt lost before his arrival.

Avoiding relegation and finishing mid-table when so much pointed to disaster is a huge achievement. Pereira's nomination, external is not just justified—it is a celebration of leadership that rescued a season, and gave Wolves their hope and identity back.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

The Crystal Palace fans won't really care what the result is here, because they won the game that really mattered at Wembley at the weekend, and they have a trophy to show for it.

So, there will definitely be a party in the stands at Selhurst Park after Palace's FA Cup success, but it is hard to know what to expect from the Eagles players after their own celebrations.

I am not really sure what shape Wolves will be in either, though. They were on a superb run of form until the start of May, but have lost their past two games.

It is Palace who will have all the momentum and Eberechi Eze is flying at the moment so I am going to back them here, but the outcome really depends on whether their manager Oliver Glasner makes a lot of changes.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Make your own prediction here, external

Wolves' Matheus Cunha is set to Manchester United after the season ends this weekend, with the Red Devils expected to trigger the forward's £62.5m release clause. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game at Crystal Palace (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "Only issue is Tommy Doyle with a small problem, and Sam [Johnstone] to clean the injury that he had before. But they are not serious injuries, just small things that they want to clean."

• Pereira itted he does not have any information regarding Matheus Cunha's future but said the forward "is committed, he is my player and is working with happiness".

• On his manager of the year nomination: "A bit surprised because I came into the league in the middle of the season, but proud of my players, my staff, the club and the ers because this is team work. It's not just me who has achieved this,. It is something special, for sure, and I am very proud."

• Pereira stated that their goal after he arrived was to "transform their situation" into something better, and that was their "title". Survival was the goal, but for next season, the goal is to get better, "create a strong team with a strong base".

• On Nelson Semedo and Pablo Sarabia's future: "Nelson knows we want him in the team. Even Sarabia - I like his personality and quality. We tried to do our best, but at this moment, I don't have the answer. We must wait. Sometimes we are impatient, and we must respect the timing of the players and the club."

• On the travelling Wolves fans: "Thanks a lot for the , because without them we cannot transform a very difficult season into looking towards the future."

• Pereira reiterated that he was ready for a break after a long season, starting with the work he had done in Saudi Arabia and subsequently taking over the Wolves job. However, the Portuguese manager stated that there will be important "meetings" during the summer as they have "work to do".

• On Crystal Palace: "I believe that the motivation of the ers and the team will be at a high level. But to prepare a game, I look at my team on what we can do, try to be consistent - and next season to be more consistent, to play better football. This is the way to improve our level."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves' Jorgen Strand Larsen has made more targeted off-the-ball runs into the box than any other player in the Premier League this season (109).

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to identify the current Wolves player.

The answer is Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Guess the current Wolves player from these three clues:

• I had a spell in AC Milan's youth system but never made a senior appearance for them.

• I have played senior football in four different countries.

• I have four appearances in the Europa League.

Come back to this page at 17:00 BST for the answer.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League 2024-25 manager of the year shortlist, external has been announced.

Nottingham Forest's Nuno Espirito Santo, Brentford's Thomas Frank, Newcastle United's Eddie Howe, Wolves' Vitor Pereira and Liverpool's Arne Slot have all been nominated.

Voting closes 12:00 BST on Monday 19 May.

The votes from the public will then be combined with those of a of football experts to decide the winner.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Age-old wisdom asserts that the league table tells the truth in the long run - and certainly by mid-May. Wolves' recent experience fits entirely with this, in so far as their recent six-match winning run came, freakishly, against the six clubs currently ranked below them.

Last Friday, Vitor Pereira warded off any thoughts their final three games might be an anti-climax by suggesting that their opponents – Brighton, Crystal Palace and Brentford, all set to finish in the middle third – are clubs that Wolves should realistically be able to match next season.

The Brighton game ed his thesis. There did not appear to be much between the teams in the general flow of the match, but Brighton found the precision at both ends to tilt things their way.

Now and then, Wolves produced some attractive ing, Matheus Cunha in particular getting the crowd cooing in the first half as he showed off his repertoire. But Brighton's less flashy work eventually took a grip on the game while Wolves spun their wheels. Mats Wieffer made himself Cunha's menacing shadow, forcing the blunder that set up the result. Wolves were not bad - just ineffective.

"In the first half we competed, created some chances to finish, but missed the last shot or last … one or two mistakes," said Pereira. "We played a lot with our heart in the second half, but without intelligence to control the pace. When [it] goes to this kind of match, with transitions and counter-attack transitions, we win the ball, we lose the ball, and this is not the game that I like because it's unpredictable. In the end, they punished us and they deserved to win."

Most of the attention around Wolves' recovery under Pereira has focused, understandably, on the revival of team spirit and getting the fans onside. Certainly the club needed someone to rally behind and fix some urgent problems. The sense that everyone is now pulling broadly in the same direction has been essential to get away from trouble.

But Saturday's game illustrated that unity and fighting spirit will only get them so far. To reach Pereira's next checkpoint - and avoiding the relegation stress of two of the past three seasons - will need more work. Perhaps the time available in pre-season can allow it, fostering the intelligence and sense of control needed against better sides.

To that end, Pereira may have found Saturday a more informative, if less enjoyable, experience.

Listen to full commentary of Crystal Palace v Wolves at 20:00 BST on Tuesday, 20 May on BBC Radio WM 95.6FM/DAB/Freeview

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Image source, Getty Images

For the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.

The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.

Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.

When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.

It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.

I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.

I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson