Wolves manager Vítor Pereira claimed his side did not deserve to lose after falling 2–0 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, taking a thinly veiled swipe at the hosts’ direct style of play and heavy reliance on set pieces.
Sunderland dominated possession and territory in the first half, taking the lead through Nordi Mukiele, before sealing the win late on when Wolves defender Max Kilman turned the ball into his own net from a corner. Despite the result, Pereira was unimpressed with the overall quality of the game and suggested neither side played particularly well.
“In my opinion, the first half was poor from both teams,” Pereira told reporters. “There were too many throw-ins, too many free kicks, too much time wasted. I didn’t see any real football being played. I’m trying to remember what either team did in that half — it wasn’t good.”
The Portuguese coach, however, felt Wolves were the better side after the break.
“For 30 minutes in the second half, we completely changed. We played our football — kept possession, made our movements, created three or four big chances. But in the Premier League, if you miss those, you get punished. And that’s what happened. In the last 15 minutes, we stopped playing, went long too often, and lost our rhythm.”
Pereira accepted Sunderland’s effectiveness from set pieces but hinted their performance did not merit such a comfortable scoreline.
“They’re strong from throw-ins and free kicks — that’s part of the game, and I’m not here to judge. But honestly, they didn’t play the football to win 2–0 today. We had the chances, they scored, and we didn’t. That’s the only difference.”
The defeat left Wolves still searching for their first win of the season, while Sunderland’s victory — their first since the international break — lifted them further clear of the relegation zone.
After the match, Sunderland boss Régis Le Bris praised his players for their first-half dominance and collective discipline late on.
“I’m really pleased with the first half — it went as we planned,” said Le Bris. “We managed their press, created chances, and got the goal. I only regret we didn’t score a second before half-time.
“In the second half, it was different. They reacted well, as we expected, but we defended together, showed great spirit, and got the clean sheet. That togetherness and adaptability are vital in this league.”
While Pereira lamented missed chances and what he described as a “poor game,” Sunderland’s coach preferred to highlight his team’s growing resilience — a quality that’s beginning to define their Premier League campaign.