Peixoto’s Wolves vow to bounce back after Riverside setback
Sunday 11 October 2026 · By Luke Harrington
Wolverhampton Wanderers came back from Teesside empty-handed on Saturday, beaten 1–0 by Middlesbrough in front of a sold-out Riverside crowd. It was only their second league defeat of the season, but it was a frustrating one, and it means César Peixoto’s side drop to fifth in the Championship.
Will Lankshear’s header on 57 minutes, from a Tommy Conway cross, was the difference. Boro were celebrating their 150th anniversary, and the atmosphere was every bit as loud as you would expect. Wolves struggled to settle in the first half, and Peixoto admitted as much afterwards, saying his side “didn’t manage the game” before the break.
The head coach did take heart from what followed. After going behind, Wolves pushed hard for an equaliser, and Peixoto was proud of that reaction. “Only a big team, with a lot of soul and quality, can react like we did,” he told the club’s website. It was not enough to rescue a point, but it was a sign of the character he wants to see.
It has been an encouraging start for Peixoto, who was appointed on 15 June from Gil Vicente to replace Rob Edwards. Four wins, two draws and two defeats from eight games leaves Wolves on 14 points, level with a cluster of sides between sixth and tenth. Crucially, they still have a game in hand on most of the division, which could prove valuable as the season goes on.
Kieran Trippier started at the Riverside, and the experienced defender’s presence in the dressing room is something Peixoto will lean on during a busy week. Wolves have three games in eight days, and how they handle that spell could define their autumn.
First up is Bolton at Molineux on Tuesday 13 October. Steven Schumacher’s side lost at home to ten-man Stoke on Saturday and have now lost three of their last four, so Wolves will see this as a chance to get straight back to winning ways.
Then comes a trip to Burnley on Friday 16 October (20:00). Nicky Hayen’s side finally won their first league game of the season at the weekend, thrashing Watford 4–0, so they will arrive full of confidence. Wolves then host Portsmouth on Tuesday 20 October, followed by further home games against Watford on Saturday 24 October and Cardiff on Saturday 31 October.
That is a run of fixtures against sides in the bottom half, with four of the five at Molineux. If Wolves are serious about promotion, this is the stretch where they need to put points on the board. Win their game in hand and they would be right back in the mix with Middlesbrough and West Ham behind leaders Swansea.
There was little fresh squad news from the club this week, so supporters will be keeping an eye out for any injury updates before Tuesday. For now, the message from Peixoto is clear: one defeat does not define a season. The response over the next eight days will tell us much more about where this Wolves side is heading.
Goals sit in front of the Stan Cullis Stand (north) and the Sir Jack Hayward Stand (south). The usual away section in the Steve Bull Lower is marked in darker red.
Molineux has been home to Wolverhampton Wanderers since 1889. The present bowl dates mainly from the early 1990s Taylor-era rebuild, with the taller Stan Cullis Stand added in 2012. Capacity is about 31,750. The address is Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR. For a visiting supporter the ground is compact, loud when full, and easy to reach on foot from the city centre.
Wolverhampton railway station is the simplest arrival point. From the platforms it is a ten to fifteen minute walk: leave towards the city, pick up Waterloo Road, and the Billy Wright Stand appears on your left. St George’s tram stop is closer still. Matchday parking around the ground is limited and often reserved, so a train or city-centre car park is the calmer option. Coaches are directed by the club and police on the day; follow stewards rather than sat-nav for the last few streets.
Check your ticket before you set off. The standard away allocation is the lower tier of the Steve Bull Stand on the east side of the pitch, along the touchline rather than behind a goal. That section is clearly signed and has its own turnstile block. For some Championship fixtures Wolves move visitors into the Stan Cullis Quadrant (blocks such as NL5, NL6, NU5, NU6 and NU7) so more home supporters can sit along the side. That north-east corner is behind the goal at an angle. The upper Stan Cullis tier is steep; if you dislike heights, say so when tickets are issued. Turnstiles generally open ninety minutes before kick-off. Peak queues are thirty-five to forty-five minutes before the start, so arrive early. Molineux operates a no re-entry policy: if you leave, you will not be let back in.
The four stands are named after club figures. The Billy Wright Stand on Waterloo Road is the main stand: directors’ box, tunnel, dressing rooms, press seats and the family blocks in the lower tier (WL1 to WL9). Opposite is the Steve Bull Stand, named for the club’s record goalscorer. Behind the north goal is the two-tier Stan Cullis Stand. Behind the south goal is the Sir Jack Hayward Stand, still called the South Bank by home fans. That single-tier end is licensed standing and is the noisiest home section. Licensed standing also exists in parts of the Stan Cullis Quadrant and the back three rows of the Steve Bull Lower. Follow the code of conduct posted in those areas.
Food and drink kiosks sit on every concourse. Alcohol is sold but must stay in the concourse; it cannot be taken to seats. Expect standard matchday prices and card-friendly tills. Toilets and accessible facilities are in each stand. Wheelchair spaces for visitors are limited and allocated through your own club. Audio-descriptive commentary is available if booked in advance. Bags are searched; travel light and leave large rucksacks at home.
The pitch is a standard 105 by 68 metres. From the Steve Bull Lower you watch along the touchline with home fans above you, which can be lively. From the Stan Cullis Quadrant you look down the pitch toward the South Bank. Views are generally clean, though the Steve Bull roof can clip a few high seats in the north-east corner. The atmosphere is gold-and-black and partisan; keep colours in the away section and follow steward instructions if you are moved between blocks.
After the match the streets around Waterloo Road and the ring road fill quickly. Give the home end a few minutes if you can, then walk back to the station the way you came. Pubs immediately beside the ground are mostly home territory; city-centre bars nearer the station are a safer bet for a pint before or after. Keep an eye on the official Wolves away guide for the specific fixture, because the allocation and turnstile block can change from game to game.