Vítor Pereira’s post-match remarks following Sunderland’s 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers have sparked a heated response from Black Cats fans online.
The Wolves manager suggested Sunderland “didn’t play football to deserve to win,” despite the victory keeping Régis Le Bris’ side unbeaten at the Stadium of Light this season. Pereira criticised both teams’ first-half performances, describing the game as “poor” and filled with stoppages.
“In my opinion, it was a poor first half from both sides,” Pereira said. “Too many throw-ins, too many free kicks, too much time wasted. I don’t really remember anything happening — from us or from Sunderland. For me, it wasn’t a game of football.”
His comments didn’t sit well with Sunderland supporters, who flooded social media to defend their team’s display. On the Sunderland Echo SAFC Facebook page, hundreds of fans weighed in to challenge the Wolves boss’s assessment.
Gary Stevens wrote: “It took Wolves 72 minutes to register a shot on target. By then, we’d already scored, hit the post, and had one disallowed.”
Andrew Cole added: “Wipe your tears and go practice finishing — 16 shots, 3 on target!” while Gary Mackinnon quipped: “There’s only one stat that matters!” Rob Keithley joked: “Smart guy — got himself a new contract just before the sack talk started. Mind the gap, mate.”
Brendan Jackson didn’t hold back: “He must’ve slept through the first half! Wolves wouldn’t have scored if we played till next week.” Mick Hinder summed it up simply: “You can only beat what’s in front of you — and Wolves didn’t.”
Others, like Raab Stewart, offered a fairer take: “We were better in the first half, they improved after the break.” Jackie Thompson cut straight to the point: “We won. End of.” Paul Adams asked: “Did he miss our first goal?” and Leighton Turnbull teased the Wolves boss with a chant: “You’re getting sacked in the morning!”
Steve Walker defended Sunderland’s effort in more detail: “We dominated from the 10th to the 40th minute and should’ve been two up at half-time. Wolves had more of the ball after the break, but we still deserved the win.” Geoff Fowlie agreed: “Not our best game, but three points is all that matters.”
Pauline Bainbridge reminded Pereira of what he’d missed: “If Isidor’s goal hadn’t been marginally offside, we’d have been two up inside 20 minutes.” Mark-the-Broker pointed out the gulf in sharpness: “A Premier League team that didn’t score or look like scoring. We eased off in the second half, but the result was right.”
Fans like Dean Baldassarra and Mark Edwards called out the Wolves manager’s apparent bitterness. “Should’ve been 3-0 by half-time — sounds like sour grapes to me,” wrote Baldassarra, while Edwards said: “We only played okay, but Wolves were dreadful. Still, three points in the bag — happy days.”
Alan Bateman delivered one of the night’s sharpest digs: “They had one shot on target — not counting their own goal!” And Frank Tinmouth added, “OK, enjoy your trip back to Birmingham.” Nathan Baron summed up the general feeling among fans: “If anything, we deserved four or five.”