As the pre-match atmosphere began to build and Z-Cars rang out around the Stadium of Light, it was impossible not to notice the difference between the two clubs’ moods. The home fans were loud, optimistic, and united as they sang Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling in Love – the Roker End a sea of red and white flags. It was a powerful display of support, something Wolves fans can’t help but contrast with the growing divide back home. That kind of colour and togetherness won’t be seen at Molineux next weekend, with the OGP’s initiative to have flags in the South Bank now coming to an end, and a disjointed pre-match rendition of Those Were the Days, introduced with limited fan consultation, that will once again create a somber atmosphere rather than lifting it.
From the first whistle, frustration was clear. Sunderland dominated possession, and by half-time, boos rang out as the players trudged down the tunnel. It wasn’t anger for the sake of it; it was the visible release of weeks of mounting frustration at performances that have lacked spark or direction. The second half brought a different kind of irritation. Wolves saw more of the ball, but the tempo was sluggish, the passes laboured, and there was no sense of purpose going forward. The crowd wanted urgency and intent – but it never really came. It’s always tough to generate atmosphere in the away section at the Stadium of Light given how isolated it feels from the home crowd, but the travelling support deserves huge credit. Selling our full allocation, Sunderland fans praised our travelling fans after the game. Yet many of them spoke with a tone of pity – drawing comparisons between our current situation and the struggles they themselves endured in recent years. It was an observation that hit home for many Wolves supporters, a painful reminder of how far the club appears to have fallen. Yet despite everything, late in the game, even as Wolves trailed, the noise picked up – proof that this fanbase still cares deeply.
But perhaps the most telling part of the afternoon was the choice of songs. The loudest chants of the day weren’t for the current crop, but for the likes of Dicko, Afobe, Sako, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves – with the loudest for Raul Jimenez – “Si Señor” echoing around the away end. Apart from the odd fleeting chant for André or the Bueno’s, the players on the pitch were strikingly absent from the songbook. It felt symbolic of the growing disconnect between the players and the fans – a reflection of a side struggling to perform and a support that’s finding it harder to believe. When the second goal went in, the boos returned. Many left early, but plenty stayed to make their feelings known. Arms outstretched, words shouted, anger visible. The players began to approach the away end before turning back, with manager the last to linger, staring at the furious travelling fans. It felt symbolic – a manager now facing the turning tide. The unity that once defined Wolves’ travelling support seems fractured. With Burnley up next in a must-win game, the question is simple: will the fans rally behind the team, or is this the start of the end? Right now, it’s hard to feel optimistic.
