Another home defeat for Wolverhampton Wanderers as Brentford cruised to a 2-0 victory at Molineux. The Bees were simply too sharp, too clinical, and too good for a Wolves side that looks increasingly lost under the lights.
Look, I've been watching English football for three decades, and I know a side in crisis when I see one. Wolves right now? They're in deep trouble. The fans know it, the players know it, and you'd hope the board knows it too. Because what we witnessed at Molineux wasn't just a defeat – it was a surrender.
Bees sting early and often
Thomas Frank deserves enormous credit for what he's built at Brentford. His side came to Molineux with a plan, executed it to perfection, and left with all three points in their back pocket. Simple as that.
The opening goal came from exactly the kind of situation Wolves simply cannot afford to concede. A set-piece worked to perfection, a defensive lapse that screamed of poor organization, and suddenly the home side were chasing the game. At home. In front of their own supporters. It's just not good enough.
Where was the fight?
Here's what bothers me most about this Wolves side: they don't seem to have that fire in their belly anymore. Remember the Wolves of a few seasons back? The team that would scrap and battle for every ball, that made Molineux a fortress? That team is long gone, mate.
The second Brentford goal killed any hope of a comeback. A clinical counter-attack executed with the kind of precision that Wolves themselves used to be famous for. The irony wasn't lost on the home supporters, many of whom had already started heading for the exits.
Gaffer on borrowed time?
Let's call it what it is: if results don't improve quickly, there will be serious questions asked about the manager's position. The Premier League is an unforgiving place, and Wolves are currently sleepwalking toward disaster.
The body language on the pitch tells you everything you need to know. Heads dropping at 1-0 down, players pointing fingers at each other, a lack of cohesion that suggests the dressing room might not be as united as it should be. These are the warning signs that precede the dreaded vote of no confidence.
Brentford march on
Meanwhile, credit where it's due to the Bees. They continue to punch above their weight in this division, playing attractive football while remaining defensively solid. Frank has created something special at that club, and performances like this demonstrate why they've become established Premier League regulars.
The traveling support went home delighted, and rightly so. Away wins in this league are precious, and Brentford claimed this one with minimal fuss.
The bottom line
Wolves are in trouble. There's no sugarcoating it, no silver lining to find. A home defeat to Brentford – with all due respect to the Bees – is the kind of result that ends managerial tenures. The clock is ticking at Molineux, and unless something changes dramatically, this season could go from bad to catastrophic very quickly indeed.
Verdict: Wolves look relegation-threatened and rudderless. Brentford look like a well-coached team going places. Football doesn't get much clearer than that.
