Wolves have had an underwhelming start to the new season but there might be a way to get going once and for all.
It hasn’t been an easy stretch following relegation from the Premier League. But despite unconvicing performances, Wolves are still sitting in and around the play-off spots with a game in hand against Portsmouth to play.
Cesar Peixoto is grinding out just enough results to buy himself time to improve the team. Last Friday, he got them back to winning ways following consecutive defeats to Bolton Wanderers at home and Middlesbrough away.
There is a chance that, once they click, there will be no looking back. And this game against Burnley might have shown them the way.
Why is dominating possession a possible path to glory for Wolves?
Game of two halves against Burnley
Wolves did beat the Clarets 2-1 in the end. But for a moment it felt like it was going to go the other way.
The hosts had a strong start, maintaining a higher level of performance they have shown since returning from the international break. Nicky Hayen may have found a path to glory himself for his side, in fact.
Burnley dominated the first 30 minutes and created chance after chance. Jamie Vardy found himself through on goal performing similar runs in the left-hand side two or three times. Jacob Bruun Larsen was causing all sorts of problems down that flank as well, recording a game-high 4 chances created.
And it took an unforced error from Kyle Walker for Wolves to get back into the game before half-time.
The Clarets had 60% possession until scoring in the 20th minute, and Wolves are often comfortable sitting deeper and allowing the opposition to have the ball. Peixoto, as well as still looking a little too rigid tactically – as Squawka pointed out in the season opener – is rather pragmatic in his approach.
But he has all the tools at his disposal to create a dominant side at Championship level. Midfielders like Andre, Fer Lopez, Jordan James and even Tommy Doyle are very suited for a patient style.
So much so that after they conceded and only then took control of the match, things improved. Wolves had 58% possession from the 20th minute onwards, and only got better as the game went on.
The second half in particular was probably their best 45 minutes of a single game this year. Uncoincidentally, precisely when they switched to their dominant version.
| Wolves stats | 1st half | 2nd half |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 52% | 55% |
| Shots | 9 | 11 |
| Shots against | 12 | 3 |
| Big chances | 1 | 3 |
| Big chances against | 1 | 0 |
| Expected goals | 0.49 | 1.51 |
| Expected goals against | 0.92 | 0.11 |
Story of the season so far
But that has actually been the case many, many times. Wolves have performed better overall when taking the game to the opponents instead of respecting them more than they should. After all, this is one of the best squads in the division and they should be held to that standard.
Even in the recent loss to Bolton, they allowed the Trotters to feel way too comfortable at Molineux. The possession shares were at 52-48 in favour of Wolves until Atsuki Ito opened the scoring for the visitors.
They nearly doubled Bolton in all the categories mentioned in the table above after scoring – which is, again, when they decided to keep the ball. 14-7 in shots, 5-2 in big chances, 2.2-1.2 in xG.
It was a similar story away to Middlesbrough. After an even first half having less of the ball (38%-62%), they conceded in the 57th minute to a great Will Lankshear header and then took control of the game. And even went on to have the only big chance of the match, but Adam Armstrong, as has often been the case so far, missed it.
The same happened against Birmingham. It was an entertaining first half that ended 2-2 and saw Wolves slightly controlling the ball (53%-47%). And they were rather unlucky not be ahead, with an own goal bringing the Blues back for a second time.
But Chris Davies‘ men took control in the second half and Cesar Peixoto accepted it way too easily. By the end of the game, it was Birmingham who probably felt they should be up.
| Wolves stats | 1st half | 2nd half |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 53% | 40% |
| Shots | 8 | 2 |
| Shots against | 3 | 12 |
| Big chances | 3 | 1 |
| Big chances against | 1 | 1 |
| Expected goals | 1.81 | 0.66 |
| Expected goals against | 0.29 | 1.10 |
In the game prior to this one, against Sheffield United, it was a similar script – though they were on the frontfoot since the beginning.
They just happened to turn it up a notch in the second half, forcing the Blades back even more and keeping more of the ball. The result was a 90th-minute winner from Raul Jimenez and a deserved three points.
The point is there are countless examples of Wolves looking like a better side when they take matters into their own hands. It also looks like a better suited style of play given the talent they have in the squad.
There is a chance Peixoto leans on this more patient style going forward that could see them fully thrive. If that happens, at least they have done enough to still be around the top eight now.