Cesar Peixoto has told his Wolves players to learn quickly from recent mistakes before they travel to face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday afternoon. Wolves go into the game having taken one point from their last two outings and having conceded six times, a run that has sharpened the focus on what goes wrong when control slips away.
The timing matters because this is the first chance for Wolves to answer that poor spell in public, after an August in which they were unbeaten and Peixoto was nominated for the Championship Manager of the Month award. That change in mood is why the Sheffield United Vs Wolves search feels live now: the next match is not just another fixture, but a test of whether the early-season confidence can hold after the first real setback.
Peixoto said Kieran Trippier has started training but is not ready to start the game, though he may travel and could take some minutes. Bertrand Traore is also short of rhythm after working alone, while JJ Bellegarde is only in his second week with the squad and can be used for a few minutes at most. Yerson Mosquera and Rafiki Said remain out, although both are progressing.
That leaves Peixoto balancing the need for points with the need to protect players who are coming back. He said he wants to rush them, but the medical department will not allow it, adding that Wolves are stronger when everyone is together because the squad then has more options and more quality. The problem is that Sunday may arrive before that ideal version is available.
The defensive work behind the scenes has been direct. Peixoto said Wolves have shown the players images and spent the week on the issues, with a particular emphasis on closing the block quicker, competing for first and second balls, and being stronger in duels when the opposition plays long. He also pointed to goals from around the edge of the box, including two against West Ham United, as part of the pattern that needs to be broken.
For Wolves, the trip to Sheffield United is more than a chance to stop a small slump. It is the first immediate check on whether the message has landed: tighten the shape, fight for second balls and get enough fit players on the field to make the improvement count.
