Wolves verdict: Unsatisfying Watford win not enough to change Molineux mood

He’s surely one of the few, however, to have experienced it when winning a match.

The derision aired from certain sections of the South Bank when Peixoto chose to remove Jordan James from the action, late in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Watford, perfectly encapsulated the paradox also known as Wolverhampton Wanderers, a club which on paper sits fourth in the Championship and just two points adrift of the automatic promotion places, yet in reality is a long way from where it expects or wants to be.

Victories like this are never going to be enough to move the dial or alter the Molineux atmosphere, upon which so much of the pre-match focus fell.

At the time of James’ withdrawal, supporters were beginning to fear a repeat of the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth four days previously, when Wolves paid the price for failing to kill off their opponent.

On Saturday they saw it out but there was little about their performance, against a Hornets side which has now lost five straight away from home, which could be described as satisfying.

For all the numbers might tell you Wolves are a team on the rise, having taken seven points from their last three matches, the eyes say different.

There has been little in their displays since the international break to suggest they can yet be seen as serious contenders for a top-two finish.

The boos and the chants spoke of a fanbase which, fair or not, remains unconvinced by the head coach and many of his players.

This next week, in that regard, is shaping up to be the most important of Peixoto’s reign so far.

The Portuguese, who extended his tinkering with the starting XI to 18 changes across the last four matches, has placed much of the blame for recent inconsistency on the extended international break and the busy schedule of five games in a fortnight which followed it.

According to Peixoto, Wolves have spent more time in the video room than they have on the training pitch.

The full week now leading into next Saturday’s visit of Cardiff offers the chance to do some extended coaching and iron out some of the creases. Supporters should, therefore, expect to see a marked improvement. In the aftermath of this win, Peixoto pretty much promised as much.

One area Wolves must undoubtedly get better is with their finishing. They ended Saturday’s match having managed 24 attempts on the Watford goal, with only three on target.

That did not include the two second half efforts Hornets players managed to direct toward their own net, one of which was saved superbly by goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia, the other cleared off the line by Jordan Zemura.

Ladislav Krejci, with a header, was the only Wolves player to test Ravaglia after the break.

Peixoto later pointed to the sheer volume of attempts as an example of their dominance, expressing belief they had been unfortunate not to win by more.

Maybe so, yet it is also true while the likes of Marshall Munetsi were guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance, firing wide from six yards out, at other times Wolves laboured to break down their opponents.

The goal they did score came from Adam Armstrong reacting quickest to defender Mattie Pollock deflecting the ball onto his own post. Otherwise the striker, who broke a two-month goal drought, barely had a sniff.

As a team, Wolves have scored just seven goals in their last seven Championship matches. The 2-1 win at Burnley was the only occasion they have netted more than once. Saturday looked like the ideal chance to build confidence yet by the final whistle, you didn’t feel it had been taken.

The return of Fer Lopez, who was not risked on Saturday due to a calf complaint, should help. Perhaps with his guile, Wolves would have claimed the comfortable win demanded.

Just as concerning was the ease with which Wolves were pushed into mistakes at the back. Watford managed just one touch in the home side’s box in the entire first half.

After the break, they became bolder and it didn’t take long for the Wolves defence, still under relatively little pressure, to begin playing their way into bother.

The Hornets never looked like they had the quality or the belief to take advantage. Against better sides, you fear Wolves would be punished.

Peixoto can counter that by pointing out, prior to Saturday, his team had played eight of the Championship’s top-10 in their first 11 matches and still they are up there in striking distance of the top-two.

Yet by the same token, they have also lost both matches against those sides considered serious promotion contenders, Middlesbrough and West Ham.

As usual with statistics, you can usually find some to fit your argument and at the moment, where Wolves are concerned, it is questionable just how much any of them really matter.

Such is the current mood at Molineux, simply winning is not enough. After Saturday, Peixoto knows that.