They are on course to be relegated just after Easter (and Easter is not late this year) and were, at one point, looking like they may accumulate the fewest number of points ever in a single Premier League season. Furthermore, they have seen rival clubs swoop for their best players in recent years with alarming regularity. No wonder I made my position clear several months ago when I said that the Wolves faithful deserve much better.
But while the ultimate outcome won’t change as they have far too much to do to avoid the drop, what the boys from the Black Country have achieved in the last five days has been nothing short of remarkable.
A 2-2 draw with leaders Arsenal a fortnight ago, secured by an unexpected 94th-minute equaliser, was one thing, but to then defeat two of the top five in successive home matches is quite superb.
What do they say about buses? You wait for a long time, and then two come along at once. Well, that is how followers of the league’s bottom club must feel.
Remember, Wolves did not have a league win to their name until January.
When Aston Villa were dispatched on Friday evening in the heat of a Midlands derby, it was a rare moment to savour for the hosts.
Now they have another – and how – after a stoppage time winner stunned Liverpool and created not only Premier League 2026 highlights, but one of the moments of the campaign.
Wolves exhibited the composure of champions to seize the lead with 12 minutes remaining when substitute Tolu Arokodare, nestling between visiting centre backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, expertly laid the ball off to the advancing Rodrigo Gomes, who lifted a deft shot over a stunned Alisson.
As you’d expect for a team created with a record summer overhaul, the Merseysiders hit back, levelling through footballer of the year Mohamed Salah.
They probably should have been in front too, but for hitting the post and wasting a gilt-edged opportunity.
Yet when André’s strike deflected home (just like against the Gunners, arriving in the 94th minute), Liverpool were floored, Wolves felt fantastic.
Manager Rob Edwards, eyes wide with delight and disbelief, booted a ball off a pitch‑side cone and hurtled off to savour another special moment in a gruelling season.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2026 betting odds agree with the long-held sentiment that they and Burnley are all but doomed, but my word, after one win in 32 top-flight encounters (a run which includes the end of last term), how they will treasure two unexpected successes over the last five days. They remain 12 points from safety, but that is a big improvement from the 17-point gap under a week ago.
While they have closed the gap on 19th-placed Burnley to three points, the team that defeated the Clarets on Tuesday night appears to have renewed momentum.
That may appear an odd thing to say given the 2-0 success was Everton’s first home victory in 87 days and only their fifth win in 15 league games at their new base since saying farewell to Goodison Park, their home of 133 years.
But the goals from James Tarkowski and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ensured the Toffees moved to within a point of seventh-placed Brentford to further boost their European following Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Newcastle.
In truth, David Moyes’ men never really needed to move out of second gear.
It is also fair to say that during a long season in which they have been mainly involved in close encounters for little reward, the Clarets looked physically and mentally drained and almost resigned to the fact they will be playing back in the Championship next term.
The other two sides that were promoted with them last term have fared so much better, and they clashed on Tuesday night at Elland Road.
Sunderland’s 1-0 win at Leeds was, in many ways, the story of the week for me.
For a team that sneaked up in the Championship play-offs last term, and were red-hot favourites to come straight back down, to have reached 40 points by the start of March is hugely impressive.
That tally is normally viewed as being enough to secure safety, and the Black Cats, under the astute management of Regis le Bris (surely a contender for manager of the year), have been a revelation on their top-flight return.
The only goal of the contest came with 20 minutes remaining when Habib Diarra, subject of a transfer bid by Leeds last summer, saw his penalty fortuitously find the net via the hip of home custodian Karl Darlow.
While they had a degree of fortune with the spot-kick, Sunderland looked a more assured side once captain Granit Xhaka was introduced 11 minutes after the restart, and they held on for victory, even during an eternity of 12 minutes of stoppage time.
While Wolves and Sunderland deserve the majority of the midweek plaudits, there were also potentially crucial developments at the top and the bottom.
Nottingham Forest produced a display full of character as they twice came from behind to draw at title chasers Manchester City, courtesy of a dogged showing and two brilliant strikes from Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliott Anderson.
It was a result they needed as West Ham dug deep to win at Fulham, as arguably their best player since the turn of the year, Crysencio Summerville, scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half. It moves the Hammers level on points with Forest, who remain outside of the bottom three on goal difference.
If City produced a display which had the hallmark (and good fortune) of champions at Leeds on Saturday, this time it was leaders Arsenal who demonstrated such attributes.
A narrow win at Brighton, thanks to Bukayo Saka’s early deflected goal – coupled with those dropped points for City – means the Gunners have a seven-point lead at the top.
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