Being bottom at Christmas need not mean the drop. Three years ago, Wolves were in such a position, the difference being they kicked off Boxing Day then with 10 points rather than two. Wolves have offered historic incompetence, the worst losing run in club history.
Keane Lewis-Potter’s second-half double, Caoimhín Kelleher’s save of Jørgen Strand Larsen’s poor penalty, left them marooned on two points. Only three teams have previously lost 10 Premier League matches in succession. They all finished rock-bottom come May.
It concluded a week of change and tragedy at Molineux. Jeff Shi, an unpopular club chair who recently described relegation as a “technicality”, departed, replaced by Nathan Shi, the interim appointment a namesake but no relation. Before the game, Ethan McLeod, the Wolves trainee and Macclesfield forward who died in a car accident, was remembered by a minute’s silence. His brother, Conor, an under-21 squad member, was among extended family on the sidelines.
“We’re all in this together,” said Rob Edwards, unable to effect change, having lost all six matches in charge. “Everybody will be aligned,” he said of the new executive regime.
“We can’t give up. We have to keep believing and hope that things will turn. Let’s see, moving forward, how that goes. I’m well up for the challenge.”
If their opponents’ position is parlous, Brentford’s recent form had given rise to relegation concerns. Winning here was imperative. They began in the usual fashion, with a Michael Kayode long throw, but were having, though not necessarily enjoying, the lion’s share of possession. Where 44% is their usual average it ticked towards 70%. That does not come naturally.
“I always thought it would be a difficult game today,” said Keith Andrews. “We had no divine right to expect to score a goal in the first 20 minutes.”
To achieve mission impossible, initial objective the 11 points Derby went down with in 2008, Edwards is digging in, tactics less three at the back than five. Often seven. Entertainment in short supply, Molineux’s paying public directed attention to the boardroom, with chants of “Fosun out”, banners declaring “our club” brandished.
Andrews was left sympathising with the club where he began his playing career. “I have always got a soft spot for this club,” he said. “It’s clearly not easy.”
Despite Brentford’s command of possession, Kelleher was asked to make the first save, David Møller Wolfe’s cross almost deflecting past him. A first shot on goal did not arrive until the 31st minute, André driving a free-kick into the wall. That represented the longest wait for a first shot in a Premier League match for six years.
Could the second half improve on such low-level ambition and application? Ki-Jana Hoever’s aimless clatter of the ball into the Jack Hayward Stand suggested otherwise, though almost immediately Sa made a reflex save from Kevin Schade’s header, followed by a less convincing fumble form the same Brentford forward.
Spirits and volume rose during a period of Wolves pressure that was energetic though bereft of quality. Rancour came once Lewis-Potter scored his first, following Vitaly Janelt’s chip and a communication breakdown between Ladislav Krejci and Santiago Bueno.
“A good example of what he’s capable of,” said Andrews of the match-winner. “A position where we should never ever concede from,” said Edwards. “There’s always that one big mistake round the corner.”
Before that, Wolves fans looked to the past for comfort, singing of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Rúben Neves, heroes from happier, less hopeless times. “We stand up now or things will get really difficult,” said Edwards of the class of 2025.
Brentford have an unhappy habit of conceding points from winning positions and Mikkel Damsgaard, on as a sub as Andrews sought midfield control, might have sealed victory from Lewis-Potter’s diagonal. Instead, Damsgaard supplied Lewis-Potter’s volleyed second.
Once Kelleher saved Strand Larsen’s late spot-kick after a softish award for the Irishman’s challenge on Matt Doherty, howls of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” got yet louder. Stripped of playing assets, plunging to historic lows, there will be no escape for this Wolves team.
