Pereira calls for unity as fans turn on rock-bottom Wolves

Wolves manager Vitor Pereira called for unity at Molineux after confronting furious fans following Sunday's damaging 3-2 defeat against Burnley.

Pereira's side are the only Premier League team yet to win this season and they sit bottom of the table with just two points from nine games.

A visit from promoted Burnley looked like an opportunity to finally secure a victory, but Zian Flemming struck twice to put the visitors in command.

Jorgen Strand Larsen's penalty and Marshall Munetsi's equaliser hauled Wolves level, only for Lyle Foster to bag Burnley's winner in the fifth minute of stoppage-time.

The atmosphere turned toxic after the final whistle and Pereira and Strand Larsen became involved in heated discussions with angry supporters in front of the South Bank.

Wolves fans brought an end to the contentious debate by chanting "you're getting sacked in the morning" at their manager.

They also taunted executive chairman Jeff Shi and owners Fosun, singing "you've sold the team, now sell the club" in reference to the summer departures of Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester United and Manchester City respectively.

Pereira saved Wolves from relegation last season after replacing the sacked Gary O'Neil in December and recently signed a new contract.

But Wolves' woeful form means he faces a fight to avoid the same fate as O'Neil, just months after drinking with fans in a local pub to celebrate their survival.

"What I said is, we worked a lot and need to fight together. The team gave everything on the pitch to win," Pereira said of his post-match talk with the fans.

"We understand the frustration of the people and supporters but what I must say, if we fight united with them, we can win games and compete and achieve our targets. Without them it is impossible.

"If we win two or three games in a row, things will change. Two months ago they sing my name, because together with the work we did last season, we are competing in the Premier League and not the Championship.

"Now they sing my name to sack me. If I was a supporter, I feel proud of my team because they worked and showed the spirit, mentality and ambition to win the game."

It is the fourth time Wolves have conceded in the late stages of a defeat this season.

But Pereira believes they can still avoid the drop, saying: "What I saw in the dressing room is a team suffering because they did everything to get more.

"We need to suffer but tomorrow we need to rise again ready for a fight. This is the mentality of this group."

smg/nr