Leeds 3-0 Wolves: What Edwards saidpublished at 18:04 BST 18 April
18:04 BST 18 April
Media caption,
'The writing's on the wall' - Edwards
Wolves boss Rob Edwards, speaking to Match of the Day: "Leeds were better in the big moments.
"The timing of the second goal is not good enough. We need to be better in those big moments.
"There was a good reaction because it could have gone away from us. Second half we pushed. I didn't think it was a penalty at the end.
"They didn't make the mistakes we made and they punished us when we did."
On Jose Sa missing: "Yesterday, it was a spasm in his shoulder/back area. We tried to give him as long as possible, but we called it just before we came down here."
On relegation looming: "We don't want it to happen, but the writing is on the wall. We have to continue trying to improve and there are things we are doing better, but we are where we are because of the mistakes.
"It is really important we fight in every single moment."
Did you know?
This was Wolves' 22nd defeat in the Premier League this season, whilst they've only lost more matches across a single top-flight season in 2011-12 (23), 1983-84 (25), 1964-65 (25) and 1905-06 (23).
Rodrigo Gomes made his 50th appearance for Wolves across all competitions this afternoon, becoming the 13th different Portuguese player to make 50+ appearances for the club across all competitions since their promotion to the top-flight in 2018.
Analysis: Wolves issues apparent once more as relegation loomspublished at 17:56 BST 18 April
17:56 BST 18 April
Sam Drury BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
It has been inevitable for months but Wolves are finally at the point where they are waiting to be put out of their misery.
There was an upturn in form and some encouraging displays prior to the international break but there was no realistic thoughts that they might escape.
And their two games since then have shown why, with heavy defeats away to relegation-threatened sides.
Rob Edwards' team struggled to cope as Leeds hassled and harried them in the early stages, while every set-piece seemed to result in chaos in the Wolves box.
It was little wonder they found themselves 2-0 down so quickly - but almost more symptomatic of their season was what followed.
Leeds' intensity dropped, Wolves were almost invited into the game, but failed to lay a glove on the home side.
What little they did create came from corners and, when Joao Gomes went through for their best chance of the game, it was a fortunate ricochet rather than an incisive pass that sent him clear.
The nervousness at Elland Road when Wolves did have a short spell of pressure showed how different things might have been had the visitors got a goal back.
But this is currently a team devoid of cutting edge - just 24 goals from 33 games tells its own story - and addressing that is sure to be a priority for Edwards as the club tries to plot a way back to the big time next term.
Leeds v Wolves: Team newspublished at 14:06 BST 18 April
14:06 BST 18 April
Daniel Farke names the same Leeds XI that started Monday's memorable 2-1 win over Manchester United.
Noah Okafor was the hero as he scored both goals at Old Trafford, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin retains his place as he aims to end a six-match goal drought in the Premier League.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Leeds v Wolves" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Brighton", for instance.
Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:03 BST 17 April
19:03 BST 17 April
Chris Adams BBC Sport journalist
Buoyed by their surprise victory at Old Trafford earlier in the week, Leeds United return to home soil on Saturday (15:00 GMT) to face bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers, who could be relegated to the Championship by Monday night if a combination of results go against them.
Okafor hits form at the right time
Daniel Farke's side were outstanding in the first half against Manchester United on Monday night, laying the foundations for just a second league win in 10 outings. The challenge now is whether they can they follow up their 2-1 victory with another three points to ease their own relegation fears.
The Whites, who sit 15th – six points clear of the relegation zone with six games to play – are looking to win back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season. They are the only club in the division yet to do so.
Noah Okafor's first-half brace on Monday means he has scored four goals in his last four league games, taking his tally for the season to six. He also netted in the reverse fixture, a 3-1 win for Leeds at Molineux in September.
Only two Swiss players have scored more in a single campaign in England's top tier: Xherdan Shaqiri with eight for Stoke City (2017-18), and Granit Xhaka with seven for Arsenal (2022-23).
Leeds could do with a similar performance at Elland Road on Saturday, where they have failed to score in four of their last five league games, including the last three in a row. The only time the Whites have ever gone four home league games without scoring was in February-March 1982 under Allan Clarke in the old First Division.
Wolves on their last legs
Wolverhampton Wanderers have known for some time now that relegation is likely – they've been bottom of the table for each of their past 29 games – but this is the first matchweek in which it can be confirmed.
Wolves' fate will be sealed if they lose to Leeds and Tottenham Hotspur beat Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday or West Ham United take at least a point in their Monday night game at Crystal Palace.
Even if Wolves were to pick up a point in West Yorkshire, they could still go down if West Ham win and Nottingham Forest avoid defeat against second-bottom Burnley.
Head coach Rob Edwards is to be commended for his efforts since he was appointed in November – the Old Gold have won 15 of their 17 points since the former Wales international took charge – but he is the new owner of an unwanted Premier League record.
Among the 130 coaches to have managed 50 or more games in the competition, ex-Luton Town boss Edwards has the lowest win percentage, with just nine victories in 59 matches (15.3%).
He also has the lowest points per game ratio (0.69) and is the only manager to see his sides ship at least two goals per game - 118 goals in 59 games, exactly two per match.
Three points for Wolves would stave off relegation for at least another week, but unfortunately for those hardy fans making the trip from the Black Country their team haven't won a single league game on the road this season.
Sutton's predictions: Leeds v Wolvespublished at 18:28 BST 17 April
18:28 BST 17 April
Let's get it right, Leeds could have beaten Manchester United by a much bigger margin than 2-1 on Monday night.
I had Dominic Calvert-Lewin in my Fantasy team and he should have scored a couple, while it took a brilliant goalline tackle from Lisandro Martinez to deny Ao Tanaka.
Wolves were competitive against West Ham, at least until they conceded anyway, but I can't see past another Leeds win here. There is a nice balance to Daniel Farke's side.
This one might be a little bit nervy but I think they will get over the line. If they do, they will be on 39 points which should be enough to keep them up.
Edwards on Doherty's fitness, West Ham defeat, 'brilliant' Farkepublished at 14:05 BST 17 April
14:05 BST 17 April
Huzaifah Khan BBC Sport journalist
Wolves boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Leeds United at Elland Road (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Edwards confirmed goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is still not available due to a shoulder injury, while Matt Doherty is "pushing" for a comeback after training for the past couple of days and they will make a "late call" on whether he's fit enough to play.
He added that everyone else is fit and available for this weekend.
On whether losing 4-0 to West Ham felt like a setback: "I think in this league, everyone loses games and you're going to drop points. The result was horrible but we can't let that knock us."
The Wolves boss believes "the fight will remain" among his squad, and if anyone doesn't buy into that then he's not afraid to play younger players who will fight for the club.
On what he wants to achieve for the rest of the season: "Whether it's Friday night games or Monday night games, take the last one aside, I think we've shown a good side to ourselves. Won some big games, fought back against big teams. People watching would have watched and thought it's a pretty good place to be and to play. We want to try and get as many points as possible and take it as far as we can."
Asked about Leeds boss Daniel Farke, Edwards responded: "I think he's a brilliant manager. I think he's done a great job. I actually think the performance levels consistently for a long time now are above where they are, especially in the league. "
He added that Leeds "have a great way of playing - aggressive, very dynamic, quick, loads of intensity, so it will be a very challenging game."
On the away day: "Elland Road is always a really good atmosphere as well. They'll be buoyed by the result last time out away at Manchester United, so it should be a really good game for us."
'A lot hinges on recruitment' and 'I think we can do it' - your viewspublished at 15:00 BST 16 April
15:00 BST 16 April
We asked for your views whether Wolves can bounce straight back to the Premier League if the seemingly inevitable happens and they are to go down.
Here are some of your comments:
Jacob: I believe we can bounce back at the first time of asking but it will require a fairly large rehaul of the squad. Whether we return to the Premier League depends entirely on the ambition and competency of Fosun's recruitment in the summer. Also, the task will be made that much harder if we have to compete with Tottenham for a promotion place.
Lee: Unfortunately I don't think we will bounce back. As long as the current ownership is in place we will struggle.
Ben: Given the advantage of the parachute payments and Edwards' track record of promotion, a top-eight berth should be achievable. However, a lot hinges on recruitment, an area in which we have been woefully inconsistent in recent seasons. Hopefully Fosun have learned from past mistakes and give the management team the tools and time needed to succeed.
James: I think that if anyone has the ability to get us back up it is Rob. It will be tough however. I think we can do it .
Josh: I think we will hold on to a good group of core players. It worries me if Spurs come down with us as you would presume they would take one of the automatic spots.
Gareth: It completely depends on what happens in the summer. We've shown more ability and fight since Rob took over, which is of course a positive, but some of our key players have been a core reason to that. We will no doubt have large sums thrown at us for these players, and the ones we do sell, our recruitment will need to put that money to good use. This summer will absolutely define next season.
Rob: I think it all depends on Tottenham, if they go down I am not sure we will come back on the first attempt. Staying down for a season could also allow us to build a better team. If Spurs don't get relegated we stand a chance.
West Ham loss leaves Wolves entering 'period of footballing purgatory'published at 09:23 BST 15 April
09:23 BST 15 April
Mike Taylor BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, PA Media
Perhaps it was easier when they weren't playing.
In the three and a half weeks without a game, some sense of anticipation had begun to build up. There may have been only the most slender hope of survival but there was at least the prospect of some fun on the way to the exit.
After Friday's 4-0 loss at West Ham, and the careless mistakes in the second half, Wolves instead enter a period of footballing purgatory.
There will be a numbness about these final games. If they win, maybe even if they win them all, it will be too late to count. If they lose, after being bottom of the league for almost the entire season, they can be no worse off. They will be results without consequence.
But it is just this sense of futility that makes the remaining weeks of the season so dangerous. No doubt several members of the squad will be playing out their last few weeks with the club, at least in their own minds. Although there is apparently no immediate financial urgency to sell, Wolves will need to shift at least a few players out to press on with the renewal of their squad - the sooner the better to prepare for the Championship.
Whether the list of players Wolves intend to move on matches the list of those who think they should, to say nothing of the list of those likely to attract decent offers, will take some time to establish. There is a danger of drift now. For a player who thinks - or whose agent thinks - he is about to land a lucrative move away, what is the incentive to go for that tackle or to make that sprint? If Wolves expect a player to leave, is there any point in picking them now anyway?
There is some logic to leaving out a few stars. Giving young players a chance always appeals to the footballing romantics. But using the remaining games just as testbeds heightens the risk of another losing run. A string of defeats now may make no difference to the league table but would still sap morale, at a time when the club is trying hard - with more sensible pricing - to persuade fans to pay for another season.
As Wolves have found in recent years, the mood in May carries over to August. Exposing young players to the harsh spotlight of the last weeks in the Premier League, and a low moment in the club's recent history, is also a difficult thing to do.
Man City v Arsenal: Who do you want to win?published at 07:18 BST 15 April
07:18 BST 15 April
Image source, Getty Images
Two Premier League heavyweights are set to face each other this weekend at Etihad Stadium, as Manchester City host Arsenal.
Both teams go into the fixture with different targets. For Mikel Arteta's side, it is about extending their lead at the top of the table. For Pep Guardiola's side, it is about closing the gap and keeping themselves in the title race.
It is a fixture being labelled a title decider by some, so we want to know who you want to win this Sunday's match.
Will you be cheering on the Citizens or getting behind the Gunners?
'Performance was nowhere near good enough'published at 10:47 BST 14 April
10:47 BST 14 April
Emma Milton Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves' defeat by West Ham exposed a familiar problem that has been an underlying issue all season.
For most of the first half, Wolves actually looked the better side. But even then, the same problem kept appearing - a lack of quality and directness in the final third. That is not good enough now and it will be even less acceptable in the Championship.
The two goals conceded in quick succession also pointed to a deeper issue. Individual errors, combined with a clear lack of focus and a bit of naivety, cost Wolves badly at a key moment in the game. Those kinds of mistakes cannot keep happening.
Wolves have not had enough physical presence or enough players who can handle a proper battle. Against West Ham, that lack of size and power showed up again. In the Championship, where games are often scrappier and more physical, that weakness would stand out even more.
The squad has limited creativity and that is telling when so much is being asked of Joao Gomes, who is naturally a defensive midfielder, and 18-year-old Mateus Mane. who has already had to carry a huge amount of responsibility over half a season. That is not sustainable if Wolves want to come back stronger.
There was also a familiar lack of support around the striker. When Wolves get players close enough to combine, they can create chances. When they do not, the centre-forward is isolated and attacks break down before they begin. Adam Armstrong has at least offered movement and link play and this may have been helped had there been a second striker like Tolu alongside him.
In truth, this defeat said as much about squad balance as it did about the teamsheet. Wolves have spent too long without enough physical presence. If they are being overrun in the Premier League, that same profile will struggle in the Championship too.
Wolves need more imagination, more pace, more physicality and more players who can make the final third feel dangerous. Right now, too many promising spells fade into nothing.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 10:25 BST 12 April
10:25 BST 12 April
Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.
Analysis: Last hope of great escape bid finally extinguished?published at 19:05 BST 11 April
19:05 BST 11 April
Keifer MacDonald BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
For Wolves this felt like the night any lingering hope of pulling off one of the greatest escapes in top-flight history was all but extinguished - with a return to the Championship now surely a matter of when, not if.
The visitors started brightly and it could have been a very different story - and scoreline - had the likes of Adam Armstrong and Hugo Bueno found the back of the net after an evenly matched opening 42 minutes.
But once West Ham found the opener - perhaps against the run of play - there was only ever going to be one winner.
What will please Rob Edwards, however, is that his side - who have spent much of the campaign propping up the table - did not perform like a team with just 17 points from 31 games.
It has been a season to forget for Wolves, but Edwards will take pride in the fighting spirit his side - discussed as one of the worst in Premier League history as recently as December - have shown over the past three months, even as relegation loomed large throughout.
West Ham 4-0 Wolves - the fans' verdictpublished at 14:34 BST 11 April
14:34 BST 11 April
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We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between West Ham and Wolves.
Here are some of your comments:
West Ham fans
Joe: Massive win and a clean sheet to go with it. Struggled in the first half but fought for that opener and got the team back into it. Taty and Pablo are a great pair up front, Bowen is clinical with his passing and Mavro is being a beast in the box. Happy Hammers tonight, bring on the next one.
Dave: At long last a good result. We were second best in the first half but improved in the second half. Wolves have improved too, and looked like they were going to score but luckily they didn't. We need to start having two good halves and we may stay up and send Spurs down.
Sue: What a great result and another clean sheet. First half a bit slow but a brilliant second half. If we keep going like this we will beat the drop. Watch out Arsenal haha.
Wolves fans
Guy: Whilst we are obviously going to be relegated this year, it would have been great to see the team actually trying to compete with West Ham to win the three points on offer. There is surely the small matter of not finishing bottom of the league to play for? After such a dismal season, that should be sufficient motivation for the team. All we ask for is effort and after such a long wait between games it was very disappointing to see none.
Simon: Pitiful - the long suffering supporters who made the trip down to London should be reimbursed for that pathetic and embarrassing performance. A disgrace after a 25-day rest!!
Dan: Once the second goal went in we absolutely fell apart. This was a game we had to win to maintain any slim hope of survival and we got battered. A pretty depressing return from several weeks without a game.
Ian: The international break has worked against us. Lots of poor individual mistakes that weren't happening as much before. We handed them the game on a plate.
Edwards sticking to 'same message' -but was this it for Wolves?published at 13:00 BST 11 April
13:00 BST 11 April
Keifer MacDonald BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
While those above them continue to battle it out for survival, it looks almost certain that Wolves' race is run.
Fifteen points from safety with just 18 points left to play for, their relegation could be confirmed as early as next Saturday if results go against them.
They have been made to pay for a dreadful first half of the season, failing to win any of their opening 19 games and picking up just three points in the process.
Defender Ladislav Krejci apologised to fans after their defeat at London Stadium - "not just for this game but the situation in the table".
But manager Rob Edwards would not be drawn on whether it was a result that killed any remaining hope.
"For us it is the same message," Edwards told Sky Sports. "We have to try to finish strong, respect every game and go for it.
"We are all under the microscope and we have to make sure we perform."
West Ham 4-0 Wolves: What Edwards and Krejci saidpublished at 22:28 BST 10 April
22:28 BST 10 April
Media caption,
Watch Edwards' chat with BBC Match of the Day here
Rob Edwards spoke to Sky Sports after Wolves' defeat against West Ham: "Yes it did come as a surprise. We're bitterly disappointed. I thought the performance in the first half was good and we started really well. Goign 1-0 down can happen, we talked about making sure we finish attacks better. Then two quick fire goals, they latched onto our mistakes and then the game is done. You give them credit but it is poor from us. So what started looking like it could be a positive night ended up being really difficult.
"It doesn't matter who makes the mistakes, we make them as a team. A couple of our best players have been robbed of the ball, it can happen, there is still a lot to do. It's a collective and they took advantage of those tonight.
"For us it is the same message. We have to try to finish strong, respect every game and go for it. We are all under the microscope and we have to make sure we perform. Tonight is strange because we did, and then we got punished in the second half. We've got to make sure that we respond now at Elland Road.
"I don't think it's helped 25 days not playing, but it's not an excuse. I won't make any excuses. In the end we got punished for our mistakes and West Ham won the game deservedly. Tonight we've got to lick our wounds, take the medicine, take the criticism, then come back and respond well."
Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci also spoke to Sky Sports: "From the beginning I felt we were the better team. We had more space, we were better on the ball. From some moment in the first half we stopped moving and finding the right solution. We let them score and the second half from our mistakes we gave them the chances. It's unacceptable how many goals we conceded. From our side we apologise to the fans - not just for this game but this situation doesn't help us in the table. We could've got closer but we did not.
"The situation that we created, we gave them the chance to score - that's from our side. I don't want to point fingers because everybody was there. We cannot do it at this level."
Does this make survival impossible? "I don't know - my full focus and others in the club was that this game was the one which changed the whole thing. It didn't happen so let's meet next week again and try to find a solution if it's there."
Yerson Mosquera picked up his 12th yellow card in just 28 Premier League appearances – among players with at least 20 games in the history of the competition, only Jamie Fullarton (11 in 25 games, 0.44) has a higher yellows per game ratio than Mosquera (0.43).
