In a week, two journeys to Bournemouth produced radically different outcomes.
Three crucial points were earned last week, and this week the FA Cup was eliminated on penalties. Matheus Cunha went from hero to zero in this game. His headbutt was an act of pure insanity, but his goal was a moment of pure genius, evoking the best of Ruben Neves. It emphasized the thin line separating success from failure. It’s true that Cunha kept getting fouled, which is frequently the cost a team’s best player incurs.
However, what specifically caused him to lose control in those last seconds? His decision to receive a red card has actual repercussions, even though we may never know.
Cunha’s suspension for at least three crucial games could not have come at a worse moment. Every point counts as the relegation battle heats up. An already overworked Wolves team is further taxed by this, especially when combined with our expanding injury list. Vitor Pereira must now lead the team without our talisman in a group that mostly depends on Cunha and his flashes of genius. Who comes forward now? There are few alternatives for attacking. Hwang Hee-chan and Jorgen Strand Larsen are out of form and have just returned from injuries. In addition to the fact that Goncalo Guedes and Rodrigo Gomes are not available at the moment, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde has been knocked down. Does Tommy Doyle have a place now?
The striker was supported by Wolves’ narrow number 10s under Pereira, a role Doyle played against Liverpool, and the manager has reportedly been trying to move his former Manchester City midfielder upfield.
Doyle’s lack of physicality in deeper situations has raised worries for Pereira, but he thinks that moving him up the pitch could help him reach his full potential. You can’t argue that Bournemouth didn’t deserve to win, but the consequences of this game are still painful. There are many questions on the horizon, and the answers will determine our chances of surviving.
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