The Vitor Pereira era is off to a winning start – and one Wolves player enjoyed his best performance to date.
Fans were not quite sure which way today’s game would go.
There’s been a lot of talk about Pereira since his appointment by Wolves earlier this week. But no one really knew how he would set up and how the team would play under him.
But his reign could not really have got off to a better start, with Wolves winning comfortably at the King Power Stadium.
Wolves hit three goals in the first-half, with Goncalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes and Matheus Cunha all scoring.
Leicester barely threatened, and – a bit like Wolves all season – were all at sea at the back.
Guedes was fantastic for Wolves, but so was Rodrigo Gomes – and his performance may have made for award viewing for Gary O’Neil if he tuned in.
Rodrigo Gomes shines as a wing-back against Leicester
Rodrigo Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Leicester...
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
It has been a bit of a frustrating season for Rodrigo, who was Wolves’ first signing of the 2024 summer window for £12.7 million.
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He had looked lively in pre-season, but starting games under O’Neil became a real challenge for him.
But he was trusted from the start against Leicester and Pereira did something with Rodrigo that O’Neil never did – and that was play him as a wing-back.
Rodrigo operated on the left side and was a brilliant outlet for Wanderers, and also worked very hard defensively.
He got Wolves’ second goal of the game, gambling with a ball over the top and taking advantage of poor defending by James Justin and Danny Ward.
Not only did Rodrigo look to get forward every time Wolves had the ball, but he actually also tried to show some physicality and he could also be seen contesting aerial duels.
Rodrigo played as a wing-back last season for Estoril on loan last season, but we have not seen him in this role since he came to Wolves.
Potentially, this could be a more regular role for Rodrigo moving forward.
Vitor Pereira deserves credit for Rodrigo decision
This was a much improved Wolves performance, and Rodrigo can be really pleased with how he played.
And Vitor Pereira deserves huge credit for entrusting the Portuguese to play the role of wing-back in the Premier League.
It has felt like something that should have happened a while ago, but for whatever reason O’Neil was reluctant.
If O’Neil tuned into today’s game, then this performance by Rodrigo may have made for awkward viewing for him personally.
There’s every chance he will now be asking himself why he didn’t show more faith in Rodrigo, especially since he flourished as a wing-back last season.
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