REACTION: WOLVES SAME OLD PROBLEMS

Wolves vs Crystal Palace: Another Draw, Same Old Problems

It’s another frustrating night for Wolves fans as we leave the Molineux feeling flat after a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. While we technically didn’t lose, it feels like a defeat. The same mistakes keep reappearing, and it’s hard to find anything positive when these results continue to pile up.

We’ve now drawn another game in a match where we had the chance to take all three points. This is becoming a recurring theme for Wolves, and the frustration is growing. Here’s a breakdown of what went wrong – and a couple of things that went right – in Wolves’ most recent draw.

A Bright Start, but No Cutting Edge

At the beginning of the game, Wolves started with aggression. Early on, the team was full of energy and looked positive. But, they still couldn’t muster a shot on target in the first half.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, grew into the game and, before the end of the half, had a couple of decent chances. One of their players even inadvertently cleared the ball off our line, saving us from falling behind. But by the time the referee blew for half-time, it was 0-0, and you could feel the tension rising in the stadium.

Set Piece Weaknesses Continue to Haunt Wolves

The second half began with Wolves looking nervous. Palace punished us for defensive frailty when a cross came in, and once again, we were undone at the back post – a gap left that allowed the Palace player to fire it in from an angle. The floodgates nearly opened as Wolves went through a shaky 10 minutes when Palace could easily have doubled their lead.

Gary O’Neil made three changes after that to some mixed reception from the home crowd, but they paid off. Wolves began to claw their way back into the match. A great pass from Cunha found Strand Larsen, who finished superbly to level things up. And just like Brighton the week before, it felt like the confidence switch flicked on, and we started taking the game to Crystal Palace.

Soon after, we actually went ahead 2-1. Wolves were back in the ascendency, playing on the front foot – the crowd came alive, and it seemed like finally, we were going to turn a corner and secure the win.

But, as we’ve seen far too often, Wolves failed to close the game out. As we have with Newcastle, Villa, and City this season, we’ve let a lead slip from our grasp, leaving points on the table.

Set Pieces – Again

It’s infuriating. Once again, a set piece cost us. The equaliser came from a corner with no Wolves player on the back post. The Palace player basically stood on the line and couldn’t miss. These kinds of ‘soft’ goals keep haunting us, and until we can defend better during set pieces, we won’t keep many leads.

VAR Drama at the Death

There was late VAR drama when it wasn’t entirely clear if a Palace goal should stand. There was a moment when Sa seemed to lose control of the ball, and the referee failed to see it as a violation. Ultimately, the decision wasn’t overturned, and the final score stood at 2-2.

It’s another case of “what could have been” for Wolves. One win in 20 games isn’t good enough. Yes, we’re scoring goals now, but we’re not managing games properly, and we keep giving away silly goals at key moments.

Mentality Problems

One of the things to take away from the game is the mentality problem that seems to plague Wolves. Too often, Wolves seem to panic when defending a lead. There’s a lack of composure across the pitch, particularly when we have the chance to secure victory. The players seem to tighten up instead of getting the job done.

The potential is clearly there, but until the team figures out how to play with composure and close games out, we’re going to keep seeing these frustrating results. The psychologist clearly has work to do to help instil confidence in these crucial moments.

Man of the Match: JOAO GomeS 

Despite the frustrations, there were a couple of standout performers. Joao Gomes gets my Leamore Windows Man of the Match award. From the second minute, he was battling hard, rousing the crowd and keeping his head up even when the team looked shaky. His energy and heart were much-needed, and he didn’t stop fighting.

Craig Dawson also had a strong showing at the back, staying solid and doing his best to hold things together when the defence was under pressure. He gets a nod as well for a performance that deserved better than seeing two goals slip through.

Looking Ahead: A Must-Win Against Southampton

We’ve got Southampton next, and if there was ever a “must-win” game, this is it. We’ve played 10 matches and have just three points from a possible 30. That’s simply not good enough. Southampton won today. Everyone but Ipswich and Wolves have now managed to win a Premier League game this season – and that’s worrying.

If Wolves fail to win against Southampton, the pressure will really start to mount. The issues we’re facing aren’t just tactical – they’re mental. Until we solve our fragility as a team, it’s going to be a long season.

Where Do You Stand?

Let us know your thoughts. Do you think it’s the manager’s fault, or are the players the problem? How do Wolves climb out of this rut? You can join in the conversation in the comments and share your thoughts on the game and beyond.

There’s more to discuss on Extra Time, so join us for that on Sunday night as we dissect this match in more detail. And hey, let’s hope we’re here talking about three points next week.

Always Wolves.