Wolves travelled to Selhurst Park knowing that three points would do wonders for confidence. Instead, they left South London with nothing but frustration, a missed penalty replaying in their minds, and the sight of Ladislav Krejčí heading for an early shower. Yet strangely, this wasn’t a performance that screamed hopeless. There was attacking intent. There was fight. There was even a period where it looked like Wolves might actually grab control of the game. Unfortunately, football is rarely decided on good intentions. It is decided on big moments, and in this case, the big moments went against them. As always, let’s get into the two good and two bad from this afternoon’s game at the capital.
Good – Attacking Intent At Last
For once, Wolves didn’t just hoof it into orbit and pray. They looked like a team with genuine attacking intent, carving out chances and even earning a spot-kick that should have been a lot better. This was a Wolves side that looked like it wanted to score, rather than one trying to invent new ways to pass it back to José Sá.
Sure, it didn’t actually lead to any goals, but seeing Wolves get forward with purpose was a welcome change from watching tumbleweed in the opposition half. It’s almost like the manager told them to kick the ball forward and chase it. Revolutionary stuff.
Good – Never Say Die (Even With Ten Men)
Just when you thought Wolves were ready to roll over like a badly trained dog, they stuck at it. After Ladislav Krejčí was shown two yellow cards within three minutes, we would have usually folded like a cheap umbrella.
Not today. Nope. They huffed, puffed, and generally gave Palace a proper game until the very end, even with only ten men. That kind of persistence counts for something, even if it doesn’t come with points.
Bad – Jiménez And Neves To… That Penalty
Ah, yes, the penalty, finally, a bit of luck coming our way. Wolves won one; the fans held their breath… and then Tolu Arokodare stepped up and, fairly spectacularly, did not put the ball in the back of the net.
If you were looking for a metaphor for Wolves’ season so far, that miss might just be it. Moments of promise that end in, well, not a goal. And if you’re going to lose, giving up a gift like that without burying it is an absolute killer.
Bad – Inconsistent Officiating and Krejčí’s Red
Yes, Ladislav Krejčí saw red, and yes, that ultimately left Wolverhampton Wanderers with an uphill battle. But context matters. The frustration wasn’t just about the dismissal itself; it was about consistency. Earlier in the match, Will Hughes was handed a second chance after his first booking, walking a disciplinary tightrope without falling off it. Then came the challenge that led to Wolves’ penalty, a moment that many felt warranted far stronger punishment than it received. No red card. No serious escalation. Just a yellow.
So when Krejčí’s second yellow was produced, it felt less like firm refereeing and more like selective enforcement. Fans don’t expect perfection from officials, but they do expect balance. On this occasion, it felt like the scales tipped the wrong way (imagine our surprise) and Wolves paid the price.
In the end, Wolves leave South London with zero points but not entirely empty-handed. There was attacking intent that hasn’t always been present this season. There was resilience when reduced to ten men. There was belief, even when the momentum and key decisions seemed to drift the other way. What ultimately decided the afternoon were the fine margins. A penalty not taken, a red card given, and a sense that consistency from the officials might have altered the narrative.
Defeats are easier to stomach when there is something to build on, and this felt like one of those performances. The challenge now is simple: turn intent into goals, frustration into focus, and competitive displays into actual points.
