Wolves rallied from an early deficit to dispatch Stoke City 4-1 at Molineux, extending their unbeaten run in the Sky Bet Championship. The match began with a flash of brilliance from Sam Gallagher, who struck just two minutes in, giving the visitors a dream start. Gallagher, the 30‑year‑old forward, held off Marshall Munetsi before unleashing a curling effort from roughly 25 yards that flew into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper José Sá with no chance.
It was Gallagher's first goal since March, and it arrived after a loose square pass from Wolves' winger Fer López. Stoke pressed for a second, with Gallagher nearly doubling his tally when his follow‑up was blocked by Sá after a quick pass from Bae Jun‑ho. A rebound fell to Sorba Thomas, who, in an unfortunate moment, sent his shot wide of the far post.
Wolves, however, responded swiftly. Within three minutes of conceding, Rodrigo Gomes sparked a reversal.
The Portuguese attacker capitalised on a rebound after goalkeeper Viktor Johansson parried a side‑footed effort from Raul Jiménez, slotting home to level the scores. Just three minutes later Gomes struck again, this time finishing a well‑timed run inside the box after Johansson had saved an initial attempt. His second goal gave Wolves a 2‑1 lead before the break.
The second half opened with Wolves looking to consolidate their advantage. Early chances fell to both sides, but Stoke's defence held firm for a spell. Jiménez, who had already found the net, saw a shot blocked but then earned a penalty when he was impeded by Stoke defender Johnson while challenging for a corner delivered by Hugo Bueno.
From the spot, the Mexican striker coolly dispatched the ball past Johansson, making it 3‑1 and underscoring his growing influence for the club. Later, 18‑year‑old Mateus Mane added a further flourish to Wolves' attacking display.
After beating Ben Johnson and Gallagher in quick succession, Mane held off Bosun Lawal and sent a cross that Johansson parried. Gomes, ever alert, pounced on the loose ball and hammered a high finish into the unguarded net, extending the lead to 4‑1. Stoke struggled to create meaningful chances in the second half.
Their striker Eric Bocat managed a tame effort that drifted wide, while the visitors continued to press. In the 77th minute, Jordan James entered the fray as a substitute, replacing Gomes.
James made an immediate impact, sweeping home a well‑crafted move that began with López's square pass from the right. James' cross‑field delivery unlocked López, who cut inside and laid the ball to James, who calmly slotted it past Johansson from inside the six‑yard box, sealing the fourth goal.
Even with a comfortable lead, Wolves kept hunting for a fifth. Substitute Tawanda Chirewa unleashed a curling strike that was deflected over the bar, hinting at the possibility of an even larger margin. Post‑match, Wolves manager César Peixoto praised his side's resilience and character. "We conceded early, but the way we responded was crucial.
The players showed personality, fought back, and then went on to score four goals – we could have added more," he said. Peixoto highlighted the team's defensive organisation and the need for sharper offensive execution, noting that the squad had been the architects of its own setbacks in consecutive weeks. He reflected on the game's ebb and flow: "We started brilliantly, scoring a world‑class goal and taking the initiative. After that, we had some very good play, from the goalkeeper's distribution to Gallagher winning a header and our runners getting into the box.
Momentum was building, but we made a tactical shift that allowed Stoke back into the game. Instead of sticking to what was working, we gave the ball to Eric Bocat, who lost it in a dangerous area, and Stoke capitalised. That changed the momentum entirely." Peixoto concluded with optimism, emphasizing the importance of the supporters' backing and the team's collective effort: "I spoke to the players before the match about shape and body language to inspire our fans. They delivered, showing quality and finding the right spaces.
Defensively we were solid, limiting Stoke's chances, and offensively we were able to turn those chances into goals." Overall, the 4‑1 victory not only reinforced Wolves' position at the top of the table after the lunchtime fixtures but also demonstrated their ability to bounce back from setbacks, an essential trait in a tightly contested Championship race. The win keeps their unbeaten streak alive and provides a platform for the club to build on as they chase promotion ambitions.