Analysis: Wolves in crisis and could get sucked into dogfight

By definition, a crisis is a ‘time of intense difficulty or danger’ and that certainly applies to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side following a dreadful Black Country derby defeat.

Six games without a win in the Premier League; 12 without a clean sheet; nine games in a row where they have conceded first – it is a terrible run.

And if they carry on in this woeful vein, they will get sucked into a dogfight at the wrong end of the table.

Wolves have forgotten how to defend. Once more, a failure to do the basics at the back was their undoing.

Yes, scoring goals has been a problem and they are hardly free-flowing in attack, but this 3-2 loss to the Baggies – grabbing their first win under Sam Allardyce – proved that the major issue lies in defence.

The time has now come to put an end to the four-at-the-back experiment.

It simply has not worked and, surely, cannot be persisted with any longer.

Nuno spoke before the game about it being ‘must-win’ while also outlining his desire for Molineux to become a ‘fortress’ once again.

However, Wolves have become far too easy to play against.

They have had a soft centre for the last couple of months, and Albion showed far more grit and determination. They fully deserved their victory.

Nuno’s demeanour during and after the match was very concerning, too.

He bizarrely spent the last portion of the game sat in the dugout, staring into space with an emotionless expression.

His post-match press conference also had the air of someone going through the motions.

Given he has been unable to see most of his family – back in Portugal – for several months because of Covid-19 travel restrictions, it is completely understandable for there to be a change in his attitude.

But he must find a way to rouse himself and his players as they have lost their spark.

The visitors were without several key players – most notably goalkeeper Sam Johnstone after testing positive for coronavirus – while Wolves were able to welcome both Adama Traore and Willy Boly back, with Pedro Neto also passing a late fitness test to start.

So, injuries cannot be used an excuse. There are no excuses. They were just nowhere near good enough.

The defensive shortcomings were clearly on display as the Baggies took an early lead.

It was a contentious penalty call but, ultimately, Traore was guilty of trying to do too much as he gave the ball away in a dangerous position before Boly caught Callum Robinson a second too late.

Matheus Pereira scored from the spot and Albion also had a chance to double their lead as slack marking saw Kamil Grosicki’s downward header fall straight to Robinson, who was denied by Rui Patricio from point-blank range.

Wolves, to their credit, did manage to turn things around and go into the break ahead.

Fabio Silva lifted a huge weight off his shoulders by calmly tucking the ball into the bottom corner.

That was his first goal from open play since his £35million move from Porto and, make no mistake, it was a cool finish from the teenager.

Boly, having set up that goal with a neat back-heel, then got one of his own to complete a rollercoaster half for Wolves – and him in particular.

Still, although they had several other attempts before those went in, it did feel Nuno’s charges were lucky to be leading at half-time.

There was an onus on improving and, if possible, adding to their advantage. Instead, they capitulated.

Having led 2-1 after 45 minutes, they found themselves 3-2 down by the 56th. Unforgivable.

The state of the defending was embarrassing as a long throw was flicked on by Kyle Bartley and headed in by Semi Ajayi.

Conor Coady then fell into the trap of tripping Robinson as he looked to spin past the Wolves skipper for another penalty, dispatched once more by Pereira and proving to be the winner.

The substitution of Coady, who had spoken about how much he had been looking forward to this game for years, after that was hugely significant. It is the first time he has been taken off under Nuno and could well be looked back upon as a watershed moment.

What was an already tough season has plunged to a new low, with a chance at retribution for what happened nine years ago against the Baggies falling by the wayside.

Wolves have gone from one of the top-flight’s most steady sides to an utter mess.

So, again, a return to three-at-the back – a system which, in the main, worked superbly for such a long time – has to be on the cards.

You just hope this does end up being the lowest point of the season and that confidence and pride are finally restored over the final few months of the campaign.

After all, despite the defence being at sixes and sevens, the midfield being overran and the attack desperately missing the presence of Raul Jimenez, there is a lot of quality in the group.

Wolves should not be in the position they are in.

The lack of activity in this month’s transfer window – which looks set to carry on barring a dramatic change of heart – has, of course, been met with frustration from supporters.

Investing in the future over the summer instead of improving the squad immediately, after selling key players Diogo Jota and Matt Doherty to Liverpool and Tottenham respectively, is a decision which has not paid off either.

But those playing week in and week out at the minute are capable of so much more. They have to stand up and be counted upon.

We all know Coady wears the armband and does pretty much all the talking during games.

Other leaders, though, must emerge in the weeks and months to come – through their actions, setting a fine example for their team-mates to follow.

Next up for Wolves is a trip to Chorley in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday night, another game which you can file in the ‘must-win’ category.

Fingers crossed, they are able to deliver at Victory Park and get past the non-league side in a firmly convincing manner, as they should do.