Wolves supporters have made their frustration clear following Tuesday night’s 4-2 defeat to West Ham United, with sections of the fanbase turning their attention towards one of Cesar Peixoto’s trusted players.
The defeat at the London Stadium was Wolves’ first of the season under Peixoto, ending a promising opening run in which the club had collected seven points from their first three Championship matches. However, the manner of the defeat has left supporters questioning some of the manager’s selections and the performances of players who have enjoyed his confidence.
Wolves actually started the match brightly and created several opportunities before West Ham took control. Fer López was involved in the early attacking exchanges, while the visitors also struck the woodwork twice as they attempted to put pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Despite that promising start, Wolves eventually found themselves chasing the game after Divine Mukasa opened the scoring. Jarrod Bowen then converted a penalty before Mukasa added his second, putting West Ham firmly in control.
Marshall Munetsi pulled one back for Wolves before Konstantinos Mavropanos restored West Ham’s advantage. A late own goal gave Wolves another lifeline, but Peixoto’s side could not complete the comeback and eventually suffered a 4-2 defeat.
For some supporters, however, the biggest frustration was not simply the scoreline. It was the feeling that certain players failed to influence the game when Wolves needed them most.
One player in particular has attracted criticism from fans who believe he has been protected because of Peixoto’s apparent faith in him. Social-media reaction has included accusations that the player “went missing” during crucial periods of the match.
That criticism needs to be understood as supporter opinion rather than an established fact. Peixoto himself insisted after the match that Wolves had created plenty of chances and argued that the 4-2 scoreline did not accurately reflect the overall performance.
The Wolves head coach said his side controlled the contest for long periods and believed West Ham were simply more clinical in front of goal. He also praised the team’s determination to continue attacking despite being four goals behind.
Nevertheless, fans are entitled to expect more from players who are regularly trusted by the manager.
The frustration becomes particularly understandable because Wolves had entered the fixture with considerable confidence. They had beaten Stoke City 4-1 in their previous Championship match and were among the early promotion contenders.
The defeat also exposed a familiar problem: creating chances is not enough if those opportunities are not converted and defensive mistakes continue to cost the team.
Some supporters now want Peixoto to reconsider his preferred XI ahead of the next fixture. There is growing pressure for players who are hungry for an opportunity to be given more minutes, particularly after substitutes such as Jordan James made an impact against Stoke before being introduced again at West Ham. Wolves’ official match report confirmed that James came on during the second half as Peixoto attempted to change the game.
The reaction does not necessarily mean supporters have lost faith in Peixoto. Far from it.
The Portuguese coach had made an encouraging start and Wolves had shown attacking quality before the trip to London. But the West Ham defeat served as a reminder that promotion campaigns are rarely straightforward.
Peixoto himself called for calm after the match, arguing that the performance should not be judged solely by the result. His message was effectively that Wolves must learn from the defeat rather than allow one poor result to derail their season.
For the supporters, though, the message is equally clear: reputations cannot guarantee starting places.
If a player is perceived to be underperforming, fans will demand competition for his position. And if Peixoto continues selecting the same favourites, every quiet performance will inevitably attract greater scrutiny.
The next few matches will therefore be important, not only for Wolves’ promotion ambitions but also for the manager’s selection decisions.
The 4-2 defeat does not erase the encouraging signs from the opening weeks of the campaign, but it has certainly raised questions.
For now, Peixoto must decide whether to continue backing his trusted players or respond to the growing demand from supporters for change.
One thing is certain: Wolves fans may accept defeats, but they will not accept players appearing to disappear when the pressure is at its highest.