Mat’s a pen pal as Big Sam bags win
MATHEUS PEREIRA would not have known about the history of the Black Country derby during his formative years in Belo Horizonte and Lisbon.
But the Brazilian is now a Hawthorns hero after two icecool finishes from the penalty spot – both awarded for clumsy tackles on Callum Robinson – gave West Brom hope and local bragging rights.
Twice Pereira was challenged to stare into the whites of Rui Patricio’s eyes from 12 yards – and both times he sent Wolves’ Portuguese international the wrong way.
It gave Dudley-born Sam Allardyce his first win as
Baggies boss, boosted his side’s hopes of avoiding the drop – and dragged Wolves further towards trouble.
Allardyce, who gave Robert Snodgrass his Baggies debut, forgave his players for their celebratory huddle at the final whistle – despite losing keeper Sam Johnstone and Matt Phillips before the game when they tested positive for coronavirus.
“I wanted to kiss the players myself,” he said. “We talked to the Premier League, the LMA and the PFA about the need for players to restrain themselves when they celebrate.
“But it’s cosmetic. I was told there’s no scientific proof that you can pass on coronavirus celebrating a goal.
“But it does send out the wrong message and I think things will improve.
“This win means so much, to the players and the fans. I hope we have given them something to celebrate and cheer in these difficult times.
“But there’s some massive graft ahead of us.”
Nine games ago, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team were being touted as possible top-four contenders.
Then Raul Jimenez suffered a sickening skull fracture and Wolves have gone into freefall.
Teenager Fabio Silva scored his first Molineux goal on 38 minutes to cancel out Pereira’s first penalty. Willy Boly put the home side ahead before the break but Semi Ajayi levelled with a header just after the restart before Pereira’s second spot-kick sealed victory.
Wolves have problems at both ends of the pitch. They have now gone 12 games without a clean sheet and when boss Nuno hauled off skipper Conor Coady and abandoned a back four to revert to a more familiar threeman defence it illustrated the uncertainty of the manager.
Nuno said: “We don’t look at the table. We only look at how we do things – and we are not doing things well.
“We are disappointed we could not give the fans what we wanted to give them.
“There is only one solution
– to go to the training ground and work.
“I still have confidence in the players. We are not in a good moment but the unity will never go away.”