Wolves Fans Won’t Believe What Cesar Peixoto Said After Stoke Shock as 4-1 Comeback Sends Huge Message

Cesar Peixoto believes Wolves showed exactly the kind of personality and character required to challenge at the top of the Championship after turning an early nightmare against Stoke City into a statement 4-1 victory at Molineux.

 

The Old Gold could hardly have imagined a worse start on Saturday.

 

Just two minutes into the game, Sam Gallagher produced a stunning strike from distance to put Stoke ahead and immediately put Wolves under pressure in front of a packed Molineux.

 

But rather than allowing the early setback to unsettle them, Peixoto’s side responded with the reaction their head coach had been demanding.

 

And the Portuguese boss was delighted with what he saw.

 

“I’m happy, not only because of the win, but because of the way we built the win,” Peixoto said after the match. “We played good, we conceded a goal and then reacted very strongly.”

 

That reaction ultimately produced four unanswered Wolves goals.

 

Rodrigo Gomes became the catalyst for the comeback, scoring twice before half-time to turn the match completely on its head.

 

His first came after Fer Lopez forced a mistake high up the pitch, with Raul Jimenez’s effort saved before Gomes reacted quickest to fire home the rebound.

 

Just minutes later, Gomes struck again.

 

Mateus Mane created the opportunity with excellent work down the left, and when his low cross was parried into Gomes’ path, the Portuguese forward made no mistake.

 

Suddenly, Wolves had gone from being behind inside two minutes to leading 2-1 before the interval.

 

It was the kind of response Peixoto wanted to see from a team attempting to build a completely different mentality following last season’s disappointment.

 

The Wolves boss repeatedly stressed before the campaign that his players needed to develop greater confidence, personality and resilience.

 

Against Stoke, those qualities were on full display.

 

“We didn’t lose confidence after conceding, and that was a key point for us,” Peixoto explained.

 

“We had a lot of personality and fought until the end for the three points. The boys did an amazing job.”

 

Wolves refused to take their foot off the gas

 

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect for Wolves supporters was what happened after half-time.

 

Having completed the turnaround before the break, Peixoto’s team could have been tempted to protect their advantage.

 

Instead, they went looking for more.

 

Raul Jimenez was brought down in the box shortly after the restart and calmly converted the resulting penalty to make it 3-1.

 

That goal gave Wolves breathing space, but the attacking intent did not disappear.

 

Lopez and Mane both came close to adding another, while Marshall Munetsi also had an opportunity before Jordan James eventually put the result beyond doubt.

 

The substitute marked his Molineux debut with an excellent finish in the 84th minute after continuing his run into the box and meeting a cut-back.

 

Full-time: Wolves 4-1 Stoke City.

 

The result gave Wolves their third victory in eight days and capped an impressive period for Peixoto’s side. The club’s official report also highlighted the response to conceding, the creativity in attack and the commitment to defending their own box as major positives from the performance.

 

For supporters who endured Wolves’ difficult previous campaign, the difference in mentality is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

 

Peixoto’s message to Wolves supporters

 

Peixoto has spoken repeatedly about changing the mentality around the squad.

 

Before the Stoke game, he urged his players to remain humble despite their encouraging start and insisted there was still plenty of work to do.

 

But against Stoke, he saw evidence that his ideas are beginning to take hold.

 

The most important moment may not have been any of Wolves’ four goals.

 

It may have been the response immediately after Gallagher’s opener.

 

Independent reports also highlighted how Stoke could have extended their lead when Sorba Thomas missed opportunities at 1-0. Wolves survived that period and then took control of the contest.

 

That resilience will be particularly important in a Championship season where setbacks are inevitable.

 

Peixoto wants Molineux to become a fortress, and this was exactly the sort of performance that can get supporters believing again.

 

The head coach had called on the fans and players to make the stadium a difficult place for opponents before the match.

 

Now Wolves have delivered the kind of comeback that can generate genuine momentum.

 

Rodrigo Gomes finally makes his mark

 

Another major talking point was the performance of Rodrigo Gomes.

 

The forward had not yet scored in the Championship this season, but he changed that in spectacular fashion by scoring twice inside three minutes.

 

His goals did more than rescue Wolves from a difficult position.

 

They completely changed the mood inside Molineux.

 

After conceding so early, Wolves needed somebody to step forward.

 

Gomes did exactly that.

 

His brace also demonstrated the attacking quality available to Peixoto as he continues to shape the team around his preferred style.

 

With players such as Fer Lopez, Mateus Mane and Raul Jimenez also heavily involved, Wolves looked capable of causing Stoke problems whenever they moved forward with purpose.

 

That attacking confidence will give supporters plenty to be excited about.

 

Boubacar Traore future also addressed

 

The victory also brought an important update away from the pitch.

 

Boubacar Traore has been the subject of transfer speculation, with reports linking the midfielder with Anderlecht.

 

But Peixoto was emphatic when asked whether Traore would leave Wolves.

 

“He won’t go, he stays with us,” the head coach said.

 

Peixoto also described Traore as an important player who can help support Andre and increase competition within the squad.

 

For Wolves supporters, that will be another encouraging development with the transfer deadline approaching.

 

The club are clearly attempting to build a competitive squad rather than allow key players to leave without adequate replacements.

 

Is this the Wolves mentality fans have been waiting for?

 

One result does not guarantee promotion.

 

Peixoto himself has been careful to avoid getting carried away.

 

But there is something noticeably different about the way Wolves have started this campaign.

 

They have shown the ability to respond to adversity rather than collapse under it.

 

Against Stoke, they conceded almost immediately.

 

Instead of panicking, they fought back.

 

Instead of settling for a narrow advantage, they continued attacking.

 

And instead of allowing Stoke back into the contest, they added two more goals to secure a convincing victory.

 

That is precisely the type of mentality Wolves will need if they are serious about returning to the Premier League.

 

The Championship is a long and demanding season, and there will undoubtedly be difficult afternoons ahead.

 

But Peixoto’s message after the Stoke victory was clear.

 

The reaction matters.

 

The character matters.

 

And the belief inside the group matters.

 

Wolves supporters will now be hoping this 4-1 comeback is not simply an excellent afternoon at Molineux, but the beginning of something much bigger.

 

After all, conceding after two minutes could have broken this Wolves side.

 

Instead, it appeared to wake them up.

 

And if Peixoto can continue getting that response from his players, the Old Gold could become a very different proposition this season.