Vitor Pereira made the dream start to life as Wolves head coach as his new side ended a run of four straight defeats with a 3-0 win against Leicester on Sunday.
Goals from Goncalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes and Matheus Cunha across a 25-minute spell in the first half sealed an impressive win for Pereira, who replaced Gary O’Neil on Thursday.
Victory leaves them 18th, two points from safety. Incidentally, it is the Foxes – who have now conceded seven goals in two games – who occupy the spot just above them.
Pereira’s Premier League bow almost started in nightmare fashion. Leicester went direct to Jamie Vardy, whose poke towards onrushing Jose Sa was blocked outside of the box. VAR took a look but the goalkeeper’s hands were not involved.
Then the dream start got going. Guedes shielded a bouncing ball from Jannik Vestergaard and tucked home from a tight angle, before James Justin inexplicably backed away and left a long ball, allowing Rodrigo Gomes to nip in and roll past the stricken Danny Ward.
Wolves’ Rodrigo Gomes scores their side’s second goal of the game
The second was greeted by boos from the Leicester fans – who had seen their side thumped 4-0 by Newcastle last time out – and those boos grew more intense when Cunha hit a shot that Ward got fingertips to but could not prevent from hitting the net.
Even more impressive was how clinical the visitors were given they ended the first half with an expected goals figure of just 0.4.
Leicester had plenty of the ball in the second half and time after time sent long balls forward for Jamie Vardy, with little success. Otherwise, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side lacked drive and quality in the final third.
Matheus Cunha celebrates scoring Wolves’ third goal
Wolves were comfortable as a resul, but did have chances to extend their lead, most notably when Joao Gomes met Cunha’s wicked cross inside the final 10 minutes, stooping but sending his header wide. By that point, though, the win was wrapped up.
