NafisaVitor Pereira Suffers First Wolves Defeat Amid Andre Absence and Lemina Uncertainty
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira endured his first setback since succeeding Gary O’Neil, as his side fell to a humbling 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest at Molineux on Monday night. The loss, which ended Pereira’s promising unbeaten start of seven points from his first three games, highlighted key issues within the squad as the January transfer window looms large.
Forest, led by former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, capitalized on Wolves’ vulnerabilities to secure a dominant victory, marking the Midlands club’s first defeat since early December. Pereira, already grappling with swirling transfer speculation surrounding midfielder Mario Lemina, faced further challenges with the unexpected absence of Andre.
Andre’s Absence Sparks Questions
Midfielder Andre was notably missing from the matchday squad, despite earlier assurances from Pereira that the 23-year-old would be available. Speaking at last week’s press conference, Pereira explained that Andre had been granted permission to travel to Brazil for the birth of his son.
“Andre is not a problem for us, but he is not here because his son was born in Brazil,” Pereira stated. “I think a father must be with his son and with his wife. This is a moment that I cannot say no to. This is like a commitment between him and me. The commitment is he must come back for the game.”
However, Andre failed to return as planned, prompting confusion among fans. Post-match, Pereira clarified the situation, revealing that Andre had been allowed extra time off due to the illness of a family member. While Pereira acknowledged the importance of family in such circumstances, his absence, coupled with Lemina’s uncertain future, left Wolves exposed in midfield.
Midfield Issues Underscore Transfer Priorities
The absence of both Andre and Lemina proved pivotal. Although Lemina came on as a second-half substitute, his ongoing links to Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League cast doubt over his long-term involvement with Wolves. As a result, Pereira was forced to start Tommy Doyle and Joao Gomes in midfield—a pairing that struggled to cope with Forest’s intensity.
Following the game, Pereira did not shy away from addressing the need for reinforcements. “If we want to be honest, we know and everybody knows that we need some positions,” Pereira admitted. “We need to bring players to help us. More solutions to face this league, and the club is working. I believe that the players will come. Not too many players, because I don’t want too many, but we need to recover our players as soon as possible and to bring two or three players to balance the team.”
Wolves are reportedly close to finalizing a deal for Emmanuel Agbadou from Stade Reims, while Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff has also been linked with a move to Molineux. With Pereira eager to steady the ship, these potential additions could prove crucial as Wolves aim to regain their form in a challenging Premier League campaign.
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