Wolves secured a third Premier League win in a row for the first time this season in a crucial clash against Ipswich Town on Saturday and the Matchday Live Extra team were in position to give their thoughts post-match.
Vitor Pereira’s side had already taken seven points from their previous three outings either side of the international break, and Wolves continued that momentum at Portman Road, as goals from Pablo Sarabia and Jorgen Strand Larsen – his fourth in three games – secured a victory which pushed the team one step closer to safety and left Ipswich in relegation trouble.
After the final whistle, former Wolves full-back Andy Thompson discussed the spirit within the team to come from behind to claim a vital three points, how the defence and midfield have both benefitted from the signing of Emmanuel Agbadou in January and Sarabia making an impact of the bench.
Showing character to fight back
“They’ve showed so much character this season with the way things have gone against them in one way or another, whether that’s performances, results, decisions, VAR, referees – the whole lot. But you can’t but love it. Even watching today, I always thought we would get something out of the game because of the way that we played, we dominated a lot of the possession, a lot of the way we went about things and I know we went a goal down, but I still believed we would get something out of it because I thought we were the better side.
“I said that after the first half, and definitely in the second half, where we nullified everything they had. We switched off for their goal in the first half, but coming here, the pressure they were on – even if they didn’t show it – to get a result and keep Ipswich away from them, is brilliant from everybody involved. Not just the players, but the staff and the fans. They were excellent and stayed behind them until the end, and to be fair, they always do. At the end, you saw the excitement between the players and the fans, and that’s what football is all about.”
Substitutions proved the difference
“It was always going to be a tough game coming here. Ipswich are going to have to do all the running as they had to get the right result, they had to get the three points, and I think the Wolves players would have kicked themselves for giving away that goal because they never really caused problems to Wolves. We knew they’d try and test us with the set-pieces, but generally I think we’re dealing with them a lot better since Agbadou has come to the club, and Doherty and Toti defended really well.
“I just thought we controlled the game, first half and second half, we were in total control, but we were just missing that bit of cutting edge and that bit of luck. It just took the substitution of Sarabia to come on. We all know about his ability on the ball and what he can do with it and he’s scored the equaliser and set up the winning goal, which is the reason why we have the bench that we’re got.”
Sarabia’s impact off the bench
“We’ve got a mixture of things we could do and that’s one of the reasons why we brought him on instead of the others at that time. He's just got that eye for a pass, he knows where to go, his movement around the pitch, he’s always available, and he always puts people in the back foot. He got himself the first goal at the second attempt, it’s come back to him and he’s just hit it straight away. It wasn’t one of his cleanest strikes, but it doesn’t matter as it’s into an area where the goalkeeper is going to struggle to get down to get it.
“That’s what substitutes are there for – to try and hopefully make a difference to what’s happening on the pitch, and he definitely did that. I thought Rodrigo Gomes came on and looked lively again, he caused them problems, but that’s what it’s all about. If you’re not doing it then somebody else has got to come on and try to do something with it, and that’s what happened.”
An important goal from @Pablosarabia92 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/J79ud4cevo
— Wolves (@Wolves) April 5, 2025
Agbadou’s influence on the defence
“For me, it was won in the central midfield area – Andre and Gomes were absolutely awesome in there. They were so strong. Agbadou as well, we said before the game that he was going to be the one because he’d have to deal with Delap, but he’s too good and too experienced a player for Delap to do it. He just got on with it and didn’t look phased at all. There was one spell where a couple of Wolves players came over and he just said, ‘Leave it with me’, and that’s what we want.
“We want players to come into this team, be dominant and play well, and when we’ve seen him since he came to this club, he’s been a great buy. Ever since he came into the team at Bristol City away in the cup, he’s made a massive difference to us. Looking at that side and looking at that bench, we’ve got a pretty good side at the moment and are looking strong.”
Strand Larsen showing his quality
“I’m pleased for him with the way he’s come back into it. We all love number nines, we always have done, and we’ve got another hero coming through here with the way he’s going about it. It’s all about making sure you give him the supply and give him the opportunity to get on the end of it, and that’s exactly what Sarabia did for the winning goal. He put it into the area and Strand Larsen will do everything to get to it, if he can.
“I thought today he won some great little headers, some flick-ons, and he isn’t going to win everything, but you’ve got to get round him so you get the opportunity to pick up the pieces. I thought he caused them problems all afternoon. Sarabia’s goal came from his run and his first touch was great and that’s what it’s all about. Give him that supply and he will do everything he can to win it, flick it on, or be a nuisance for the opposition, and he’s doing exactly that, and he’s got the rewards by scoring.”
Thompson was talking to Mikey Burrows on Wolves’ official post-match podcast, Matchday Live Extra, which is available to listen to now on all podcast providers.
