Leicester City 0-3 Wolves: Pereira’s Perfect Start with Midlands Derby Victory

Vitor Pereira enjoyed a stunning debut as Wolves manager, guiding his side to a dominant 3-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday. The victory not only marked Wolves’ first-ever Premier League triumph at Leicester’s home but also provided a much-needed boost in their battle against relegation.

Match Summary

First Half:

• Wolves started brightly and took the lead early through Goncalo Guedes, who slotted home after a swift counter-attack.
• Rodrigo Gomes doubled Wolves’ advantage midway through the first half, finishing off another well-worked move.
• Matheus Cunha added a third before the break, capitalizing on a defensive error to effectively seal the game.

Second Half:

• Leicester showed signs of life after the interval, but Wolves’ defense, marshaled by a rejuvenated backline, stood firm.
• The Foxes struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Wolves’ goalkeeper relatively untroubled.
• Pereira’s side managed the game well, seeing out the clean sheet and securing a vital three points.

Key Stats

• First King Power Win: Wolves had failed to win in their six previous Premier League visits to Leicester.
• Clean Sheet Breakthrough: This was Wolves’ first away clean sheet in the Premier League since January, ending a run of 17 matches.
• Dominant Display: Wolves scored three or more goals away from home in the league for only the third time in their Premier League history.

Player Ratings

Leicester City (4-2-3-1)

• Danny Ward (GK): 5.0 – Couldn’t do much to stop the goals but lacked command of his area.
• James Justin (RB): 5.5 – Struggled to contain Wolves’ wide players.
• Jannik Vestergaard (CB): 5.0 – Exposed by Wolves’ pace and movement.
• Conor Coady (CB): 5.2 – A tough outing against his former club.
• Victor Kristiansen (LB): 5.3 – Overrun on his flank and offered little going forward.
• Boubakary Soumare (CM): 6.0 – Tried to control the midfield but was outshone by Wolves’ dynamic play.
• Oliver Skipp (CM): 5.8 – Worked hard but lacked creativity.
• Kasey McAteer (RW): 5.5 – Struggled to make an impact in attack.
• Facundo Buonanotte (AM): 5.7 – Showed glimpses of quality but couldn’t influence the game.
• Anass Zaroury (LW): 6.0 – Leicester’s brightest spark but lacked support.
• Jamie Vardy (ST): 5.3 – Isolated and ineffective against Wolves’ defense.

Substitutes:

• Wilfred Ndidi (60′): 6.0 – Brought energy but couldn’t change the game.
• Patson Daka (70′): 5.8 – Limited involvement.
• Luke Thomas (75′): N/A

Wolves (3-4-3)

• Sam Johnstone (GK): 7.5 – Commanded his area well and made a couple of important saves.
• Nelson Semedo (RWB): 7.2 – A constant threat down the right flank.
• Toti Gomes (CB): 7.8 – Solid defensively and composed in possession.
• Hugo Bueno (CB): 7.5 – Marshaled the backline effectively.
• Ryan Ait-Nouri (LWB): 7.3 – Balanced his defensive duties with attacking contributions.
• Joao Gomes (CM): 7.6 – Dominated the midfield with his energy and tackling.
• Mario Lemina (CM): 7.4 – Kept things ticking in the middle and provided defensive cover.
• Rodrigo Gomes (RW): 8.2 – Scored a crucial goal and was a constant menace.
• Matheus Cunha (ST): 8.0 – Took his goal well and linked up play effectively.
• Goncalo Guedes (LW): 8.3 – Opened the scoring and was Wolves’ standout performer.

Substitutes:

• Pablo Sarabia (70′): 6.5 – Helped maintain control late on.
• Boubacar Traore (80′): N/A

Key Takeaways

1. Pereira’s Dream Start: Vitor Pereira couldn’t have asked for a better debut. Wolves were organized, clinical, and defensively resolute.
2. Leicester’s Woes Continue: The Foxes looked toothless in attack and vulnerable at the back, leaving Van Nistelrooy with plenty to ponder.
3. Player of the Match: Goncalo Guedes – His early goal set the tone for Wolves’ dominant performance, and he was a threat throughout.

Conclusion

Wolves’ victory breathes new life into their season, lifting them off the bottom of the table and providing hope for survival under Pereira. Leicester, meanwhile, remain in the relegation dogfight and will need significant improvement to climb out of trouble.

Next Matches:

• Leicester City: Away to Arsenal (December 27).
• Wolves: Host Aston Villa (December 28).