Wolves turned a shaky start into a dominant 4-1 victory over Stoke City at Molineux, extending their unbeaten run in the Sky Bet Championship. The match began with an early shock for the home side when Stoke’s Sam Gallagher struck just two minutes in, unleashing a powerful shot from about 25 yards that curled into the top corner, leaving Wolves’ keeper Jose Sa with no chance. Gallagher, who had not found the net since March, capitalised on a loose square pass from Wolves forward Fer Lopez and gave the visitors an early lead. The excitement was short‑lived.
Within three minutes of the opening goal, Rodrigo Gomes, the Portuguese youngster, produced a double‑header that completely altered the complexion of the game. The first came when goalkeeper Viktor Johansson saved a side‑footed effort from Raul Jimenez, only for the rebound to fall to Gomes, who slotted it home.
Just two minutes later, Gomes struck again, this time after a defensive lapse allowed him to find space inside the box and finish from close range. By the twenty‑minute mark the score was level at 2-2, and the momentum had swung firmly in Wolves’ favour. The second half saw the home side consolidate their comeback and then push for a decisive lead. In the 55th minute, Jimenez earned a penalty after being brought down in the box by Stoke defender Johnson while contesting a corner.
The Mexican striker calmly dispatched the spot‑kick to the right side of the goal, making it 3-1. The goal not only restored Wolves’ confidence but also highlighted their clinical edge in front of goal.
With six minutes remaining, substitute Jordan James made his home debut and added a fourth goal. James received a precise square pass from Lopez on the right, cut inside and fired a low, driven shot from about 12 yards into the left‑hand post, leaving Johansson with no chance.
The goal capped a swift and efficient attacking display that saw Wolves dominate possession, create numerous chances and keep Stoke on the back foot for the majority of the match. Wolves also had several near‑misses that could have pushed the tally even higher.
Mateus Mane, the 18‑year‑old Brazilian talent, threatened on a few occasions, including a curling effort that was tipped wide by Johansson and a powerful drive that was comfortably saved. In addition, Tawanda Chirewa, who came on later, saw his curling shot deflected over the bar as Wolves pressed for a fifth goal.
Stoke, despite the early lead, struggled to mount a sustained response. Their best chance in the second half came when Eric Bocat missed a tame effort late on, and they were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities after the initial shock. The visitors’ defence, marshalled by Sa and supported by a disciplined back line, limited Stoke to a handful of half‑chances, ensuring the home side could focus on their attacking intent.
After the final whistle, Wolves manager Cesar Peixoto praised his side’s resilience and character. He highlighted the importance of the quick reaction after conceding, noting that the team showed “personality and character” by bouncing back and scoring four goals. Peixoto also pointed out that while the defensive shape was solid, there were moments when the attacking organisation could have been sharper, suggesting that the team could have added more to the scoreboard. Peixoto reflected on the game’s ebb and flow, acknowledging that the early goal from Gallagher was a “worldie” and that the team initially played well, creating chances from the goalkeeper’s distribution to Gallagher’s aerial presence.
However, he admitted that a lapse in concentration, particularly a misplaced pass to Eric Bocat that resulted in a turnover in a dangerous area, allowed Stoke to momentarily regain momentum. The manager stressed that such mistakes were self‑inflicted and that Wolves needed to maintain focus to avoid similar setbacks in future fixtures.
Overall, the win solidified Wolves’ position at the top of the league table after the lunchtime round of games. Their ability to recover from an early deficit, combined with the clinical finishing of Gomes, Jimenez, and James, underscored a squad that is both resilient and potent in attack.
As the season progresses, Wolves will look to build on this performance, aiming to turn their unbeaten start into a sustained title challenge, while Stoke will need to regroup and address defensive frailties that left them vulnerable to a swift Wolves comeback.