Wolverhampton Wanderers

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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First the points, then the pints.

It is unlikely Vitor Pereira thought his words during a normal pre-match press conference would resonate so much with the Wolves fans.

The head coach has ingrained himself into not only the club but the city, ing ers in the city's Wetherspoons after victories.

Naturally it helps the Portuguese has taken the side from the bottom three in December to finishing 16th and 17 points above the relegation zone after replacing Gary O'Neil.

The first half fell apart, injuries and a tough opening 10 games played their part in O'Neil's downfall but the squad was always good enough to survive.

Pereira proved that comfortably and a six-game winning run in March and April sealed safety and was their best top flight streak since 1970.

The early season struggles were forgotten and Wolves will look to build on the unity Pereira has fostered.

Although Matheus Cunha's impending £62.5m move to Manchester United leaves a hole in the squad and they must look to reinvest for a suitable replacement.

The days of huge spending are over at Molineux so a £50m replacement it is unlikely but the club cannot allow the momentum Pereira has provided to disappear if they are to further improve next term.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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Some moments are turning points for a season or a club - others just feel like it at the time.

This incident belongs in the latter group, but in a way it totally represents the wild swings of a difficult season.

By late October, despite leading for long spells against Newcastle, Villa and Manchester City, Wolves had only accrued one point.

With time running out at Brighton, it seemed certain to stay that way until Tommy Doyle found four Albion players running towards him in the final seconds, and only Jose Sa behind him.

"I think it can be just as difficult for the guy with four players as it is for one," he said modestly afterwards, "because you're expected to make a . So there's obviously an element of guessing...".

Perhaps his interception was a touch of fortune. His next, a perfectly-weighted curving that released Matheus Cunha to score, was a touch of genius.

We drove home wondering if that moment had rescued Wolves' season, and with it, boss Gary O'Neil. Looking back now, it has proved to be just a ripple in a season of strong tides.

Indeed, by August, all involved may have moved on - O'Neil left before Christmas, Cunha seems likely to go soon, while Doyle's ability is ired but not accommodated by current manager Vitor Pereira.

So Doyle's 'Last Stand' will be a memory - not a milestone - but one to still next time it seems all hope is lost.

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

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The BBC's Ask Me Anything team have done all of the research ahead of the announcement detailing next season's Premier League matches.

The fixtures for the 2025-26 season will be released at 09:00 BST on Wednesday, 18 June 2025 and the release will include the weekly schedule of all 380 matches.

The season will begin with a single fixture played on Friday, 15 August 2025 and conclude on Sunday, 24 May 2026, when all matches will be played at 16:00 BST. There will be 33 weekend rounds of fixtures, plus five midweek rounds.

The exact date and time at which individual matches are played during each weekend will be determined at regular intervals throughout the season, based on TV selections made by broadcasters.

Read the full article here

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Speed has become such a defining aspect of Premier League football for years now. Whether it's lightning-quick wingers tearing down the flanks or centre-backs chasing down counterattacks, speed can be the difference between winning and losing.

With that in mind, let's have a look at the fastest players in the Premier League this season.

Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven was the fastest player in the top-flight during this campaign, reaching a top speed of 23.1 miles per hour

Manchester City midfielder-turned-right-back Matheus Nunes was the second-fastest, just ahead of Nottingham Forest's speed merchant Anthony Elanga.

Not only does Bryan Mbeumo run a lot and sprint a lot, he's fast too…the whole package!

As for the slowest players, the above data looks at outfield players that racked up at least 10 full games' worth of minutes – to give them a chance to build up some steam.

In that metric, Wolves' 35-year-old defender Craig Dawson was the slowest player, reaching a top speed of 18.4 miles per hour.

Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and West Ham's Tomas Soucek may be among the slowest players, but they were also two of the hardest runners - covering over seven miles per 90 minutes - which shows they were built for stamina over speed.

We asked you to select your Wolves player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan contributor.

And with the poll now closed, we can reveal the winner is... Joao Gomes!

Here's what Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external said about him:

Known as "The Pitbull" for good reason, Gomes delivers every week, even when the team were struggling.

His close control and fierce attitude make him a vital force in midfield.

Aggressive and relentless in his pressing, Gomes is a nightmare to play against and stands out as one of the toughest opponents in the Premier League.

See the final poll breakdown

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Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Not every contribution in a Premier League match involves sprinting or flying into tackles. Some players influence the game in more subtle ways - through positioning, awareness, and economy of movement.

Tracking data shows that certain players walk more than others during matches, often using these moments to read the game, conserve energy, or stay tactically disciplined.

While it might raise eyebrows, walking can be part of a smart, strategic approach. Let's take a look at the players who spent the most time walking during games this season - and what that might say about their playing style.

• Not a United fan? Find and follow your club here

Manchester United fans might be interested to know that incoming forward Matheus Cunha spent more of his time walking than any other outfield player in the Premier League this season, at 77%.

What makes that even more remarkable is that the rest of the top five biggest 'walkers' were all centre-backs, where biding your time and assessing the situation makes more sense.

Now Lionel Messi is known for walking a lot in games before producing moments of magic, so it is not necessarily a bad thing, but the question is whether what Cunha brings is worth the walking.

Is Cunha's skillset worth it?

And do you agree that he is a better footballer than Garnacho?

Have your say on United's prospective new arrival over here

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Bournemouth and Tottenham were the most physical teams in the Premier League this season when considering the distance they covered and the number of sprints performed.

The results might explain why they had a lot of injuries.

Newcastle and Brighton were not too far behind though, with Brighton actually covering the most ground in the league, with fewer sprints.

Chelsea and Liverpool's style of play saw them sprint a lot but not cover a lot of ground, while Manchester City and Arsenal were the opposite (ran a lot but didn't sprint a lot).

Nottingham Forest very much had their own style of play this season as they both ran and sprinted the least.

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

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Season rating: 5/10. Wolves' season cannot be summed up by a single score. Before Vitor Pereira arrived, the team struggled and barely earned a two out of 10. Since his arrival, Wolves have looked stronger and more confident, earning an eight out of 10 for their impressive turnaround.

Happy with your manager? When Pereira arrived, the team was in a difficult place—low morale, poor results, and little belief on or off the pitch. His disciplined approach, tactical understanding and clear communication have changed all that. Under his management, Wolves look better organised, more committed, and capable of competing with anyone in the league.

It is clear that Pereira has not reached his full potential with this squad yet. If the club back him this summer, the team can push up the table. But if the board fails, they risk losing a manager who could give Wolves a bright future.

Unsung hero: While star players often grab the headlines, Matt Doherty contributes in ways that often go unnoticed. When Pereira repositioned him to the right side of a back three, he adapted quickly and put in consistently strong displays. his experience, work rate, and tactical awareness have made him key to the new setup. He's handled tough opponents, helped organise the backline, and provided stability.

Player you would most like to sign: Yuri Alberto is an exciting prospect because he offers the qualities the team has been mis front. He's a strong, mobile forward, known for his clever movement and sharp finishing. Still only in his early 20s, Yuri has made a name for himself in Brazil's top division and his style suits the Premier League.

Right now, my overriding emotion from the season is: Relief after what looked like a season in real trouble. At times, relegation seemed likely. Pereira has brought back belief and a fighting spirit. There's cautious optimism for the future. With the right gs, Wolves can aim for far more than survival next season. Fans know there's still work to do, for the first time in a while, there's an honest sense of excitement about what comes next.

Do you agree with Dave's answers? Pick one or two categories and send your answer

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

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Here's my quick assessment of Wolves' Premier League season - and a return to my August predictions.

Pre-season prediction: 15th

Ended the season: 16th

Points then pints was the mantra of Wolves' manager Vitor Pereira as he talked about sharing a drink with fans - and he got more than his share after he replaced sacked Gary O'Neil in December when they were second from bottom.

They had a tame end to the season, but Pereira brought new unity, leading to a revival which included six straight top-flight wins for the first time since 1970.

Wolves, who are likely to lose star striker Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, faded once safety was assured, but there is now cause for cautious optimism under the charismatic Pereira.

What I said in August: "I think Wolves can avoid danger - and surely they will get a better deal from VAR this season."

Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here

Manchester United want Wolves right-back Nelson Semedo, who is out of contract at Molineux next month. (Football Transfers, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Former Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray has been speaking to BBC West Midlands about how a former Olympic champion helped him prepare for his man-of-the-match performance in the 2003 Division One play-off final.

Murray was part of a Wolves team that beat Sheffield United 3-0 at Millennium Stadium to secure a return to the Premier League.

But it was words from former Olympian Darren Campbell that helped ease the pressure on the then 21-year-old.

"We travelled two nights before the game and in my room, it was Paul Ince, Nathan Blake, Darren Campbell and George Ndah and I can't lie I was nervous," Murray told Steve Hermon.

"Incey - you know what he's done, Blakey had been there and done it, G was injured and Darren Campbell was an Olympic gold medallist and I'm sat there at 21.

"Darren Campbell picked up on that and when he spoke to me, it was amazing.

"He said to me: 'This is your chance to shine. I train for four years to run a 10-second race. If I false start, it's gone. Everything I've done since I was little, that's why I'm ready to stand on the starting line in an Olympic final and it's the same for you. You are not just arriving in a play-off final - you've been on a journey.'

"It was a wicked chat, he probably won't even it!"

Listen to Murray's full recollections on BBC Sounds

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Former Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray has been speaking to BBC West Midland's Steve Hermon about his man-of-the-match performance from 22 years ago when Wolves won promotion to the Premier League by beating Sheffield United in the 2003 play-off Final.

Murray also reflects on how a former Olympian helped motivate him for the biggest game of his life.

Listen to the full chat now on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your views on Wolves' season after rounding off 2024-25 with a draw against Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Ian: Well, we are comfortably safe, which is the important thing, but I'd like to have seen a bit more fight in the past few games. If Matheus Cunha and Nelson Semedo go, then so be it, but I hope that we will have a more even season in 2025-26. I'm sick of this yo-yoing around.

Spencer: Season's ended. We weren't relegated. Beyond that, there's not much to praise. A new manager was a great addition but Fosun have proved season after season they are not ambitious and it remains to be seen if anything will change. Bittersweet being a Wolves fan these days.

Lee: Let's be honest - six months ago most fans would've thought today would be the last in the Premier League. As disappointing as the past four results have been, I think we'd take that and hope the board backs Vitor Pereira over the summer.

Keiran: Sloppy in front of goal against Brentford. Season was nervy at times but we stayed up. We need to invest though, to avoid a repeat next season. Nice to finish level on points with Manchester United and above Spurs though.

Steve: Except for the well-taken goal - pathetic. The manager has more work than he anticipated. Chalk this down as a loss as the substitute did more in five minutes to assist a goal than the rest of the team. Too busy looking forward to holidays as they had the points to survive. Hopefully new or more experienced and hungry players are on the horizon. Some players from other clubs that are being replaced may have a point or two to prove. Let's grab a few who are still hungry winners.

John: I watch the Wolves matches using a streaming service from Costa Rica, starting at 8 or 9am. This game was really exciting for me and to finish 1-1 was acceptable but if only Fosun had fired Gary O'Neil earlier, how much better the season could have been. Being a er for nigh on 76 years I have seen the highs and the lows but under the coaching of this present guy I believe the team will finish 10th next season. I just hope that the owners back him in the next window to improve and strengthen a really good team.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's 10 final day Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea

• Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

• Wolves 1-1 Brentford

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Wolves manager Vitor Pereira, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Very proud of my players, the club and our ers.

"We wanted to finish with a win, but it was not possible in a good game with chances for both sides. It was a game we could win, but [Brentford] could have won also.

"We lost two positions [in the table]. I'm not happy with this, but I'm very happy with what we've achieved this season since we arrived.

"After the City game, we committed some mistakes that were not usual. Sometimes it looks like we're not focused in those moments. We've conceded some goals that we cannot concede."

On Marshall Munetsi: "It was a fantastic goal. He'll score more goals next season, for sure."

On next season: "We want to do better. We need to keep our base and to start our work in the beginning of the season, competing from the beginning.

"In my opinion, we can't play to avoid relegation. We have to look to the middle of the table."

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Wolves have now won just one of their 11 final day Premier League fixtures, a rate of 9% - among sides to have played in at least three seasons, only three others have a rate below 10% (West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Hull City).

Meanwhile, Matheus Cunha took eight shots against Brentford without scoring - his most ever in a Premier League match, and the t-most of any player in the competition this season without finding the net.

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Wolves would have accepted a final-day 'dead rubber' when they were stuck in the relegation zone at the turn of the year, but successive defeats by Manchester City, Brighton and Crystal Palace had left their campaign in danger of petering out.

They looked set to slip to a fourth straight loss when Bryan Mbeumo put Brentford ahead at Molineux, sliding home Christian Norgaard's cutback after Rayan Ait-Nouri had lost possession on the edge of his own box.

Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken was kept busy as the hosts managed 18 attempts, but the Bees appeared to be holding on relatively comfortably until Jorgen Strand Larsen's header sent Marshall Munetsi racing clear of the Brenford defence.

Rather than collecting the Norwegian striker's flick-on in his stride and advancing into the penalty area, Munetsi opted to hit the ball first-time, leaving Flekken grasping at thin air as the ball sailed into the roof of the net.

Manager Vitor Pereira has become a popular figure since replacing Gary O'Neil in December, but the Portuguese faces a big summer with Cunha - who has been linked with Manchester United - and Nelson Semedo just two first-team players likely to leave the club.