Alious Wolves Secure Premier League Safety with Ipswich Win as Vitor Pereira Proves Key to Survival and Future Ambitions
Wolves all but cemented their place in the Premier League for another season with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday. Jørgen Strand Larsen’s late strike sealed the three points and gave Wolves a 12-point cushion above the relegation zone with only seven fixtures remaining—a significant turnaround from where they were just months ago.
Vitor Pereira’s impact since taking the reins in December has been nothing short of transformative. When the Portuguese boss arrived at Molineux, the club sat four points adrift of safety and looked to be spiraling. Now, thanks to his tactical intelligence and leadership, Wolves have surged clear of danger, prompting praise from across the football world. Jamie Carragher described Pereira’s influence as “superb,” a sentiment echoed by many.
Yet while Pereira has rightly received plaudits, Wolves’ resurgence also owes something to the unusually poor quality of this season’s relegation candidates. Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton—last season’s Championship promotions—are currently the bottom three, and their struggles have played a role in making Wolves’ escape more manageable.
Pundits Ian Wright and Roy Keane, speaking on the *Stick To Football* podcast, suggested Wolves’ Premier League survival never truly hung in the balance. Wright remarked, “Wolves have been so bad this season, but they’ve got nothing to worry about,” questioning the celebratory scenes after their win. Keane added: “They’re acting like they thought they’d go down. But did they really think they’d get dragged in with those three? Come on.”
With Ipswich stuck on 20 points, and Leicester and Southampton languishing even further behind, the bottom three appear destined to be among the worst-performing trios in Premier League history—a reality that gave Wolves a considerable advantage.
Still, credit where it’s due: Pereira’s arrival proved a turning point. His meticulous planning, man-management, and work ethic have re-energized a squad that was drifting under previous leadership. Now, the conversation has shifted from mere survival to long-term ambition.
Looking ahead to the 2025/26 season, Wolves must aim higher than mid-table mediocrity. With the financial chasm between the Premier League and the Championship widening, staying up might be easier than before—but climbing the table will require strategic investment.
Pereira, who is expected to sign a new contract before the year ends, is undoubtedly the right man to guide Wolves forward. However, he’ll need more than just his coaching acumen—he’ll need financial backing.
Fosun’s self-sustaining model relies heavily on player sales to fund acquisitions, a policy likely to remain in place this summer. Even so, Pereira’s impressive work warrants real investment. Strengthening the squad—particularly in attacking midfield and finding a suitable replacement for Matheus Cunha—will be critical to progressing beyond the bottom half.
With smart recruitment and a bit of ambition, Wolves could finally break their cycle of flirtation with relegation and instead start pushing for a top-half finish or more. The groundwork has been laid—now it’s up to the club’s hierarchy to help Pereira build on it.
Alious
