Wolves take on Leeds United this weekend in the Premier League, and the referee for the contest has now been chosen.
Wolves have made their worst-ever start to a new season, losing four out of four so far.
Alarm bells are ringing at the moment, and many fans fear this season could end in relegation, after a poor summer that has left the manager with a weaker squad than last term.
Vitor Pereira was bullish after the latest defeat to Newcastle United.
Pereira talked of the need for time to raise the level at Wolves. But the manager will need to start getting some results soon.
A win over Leeds this weekend would change the picture and lift the mood – and hopefully, there will be no refereeing controversy.
But the man taking charge of the contest has stung Wolves before.
Anthony Taylor to referee Wolves vs Leeds
Anthony Taylor refereeing at the Etihad Stadium.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Pereira bemoaned the refereeing after the defeat to Newcastle.
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Pereira and his assistant Luis Miguel both picked up yellow cards due to frustration over decisions from referee Chris Kavanagh.
Pereira said after the game: “I ask you how it’s possible to play in our level if this yellow card spoils our game.
“When I finish a game, the first thing that I do is try to reflect on my performance, what in the subs I should do and didn’t. I will try to improve for the next game and this is the way to increase the level.
“I hope that the referees do the same, reflect on the yellow cards and the fouls every time my team wants to be aggressive, fighting for the ball.”
Ideally there will be no mention of refereeing this weekend, but Wolves fans may not welcome who is refereeing the game.
Anthony Taylor has been DEMOTED to the EFL Championship after a contentious penalty decision in Newcastle-Wolves. 😮
He has been a referee in the Premier League since 2010. pic.twitter.com/QnEgcbWc0K
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 3, 2023
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The Premier League have appointed Anthony Taylor as the man in the middle.
In the 2023/24 season, Taylor got demoted to the Championship after awarding a penalty to Newcastle against Wolves for a ‘foul’ by Hwang Hee-chan in the area.
The Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel later ruled it was an incorrect decision, with Gary O’Neil branding it ‘scandalous’ (via Independent) at the time.
Matt Hobbs had some very choice words for Taylor after the game, which resulted in him receiving a one-match ban.
Stuart Attwell on VAR for Wolves vs Leeds
Wolves will also be hoping for no VAR controversy.
The man on duty for that this weekend will be Stuart Attwell, who is another individual who is not overly popular with Wolves fans.
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira looking down.
Photo by Wolverhampton Wanderers FC/Wolves via Getty Images
In April 2024, Attwell refereed Wolves’ home Premier League match against Bournemouth, and chalked off a goal scored by Hwang Hee-chan.
It was for a very soft foul by Matheus Cunha in the build up, with no Bournemouth players even claiming at the time.
With Wolves desperate to get off the mark this weekend, fans will hope for little to no talk about Taylor and Attwell, and to see a much improved performance from the team against a potential relegation rival.