Why Wolves' performances point to progress under Edwards
- Published
Wolves remain bottom of the Premier League, but the numbers suggest their performances under Rob Edwards have moved in a more sustainable direction than those produced earlier in the season under Vitor Pereira.
Results have not yet caught up with the process, but the data shows a side that is more controlled, more purposeful and harder to beat.
Starting with the basics, Wolves have scored eight goals in 11 league games under Edwards, compared to seven in 10 under Pereira. That marginal increase is backed up by expected goals, which have risen from 9.5 to 10.4.
On a per-game basis, the difference is small, but it points to consistency rather than reliance on low-probability moments.
More telling is how Wolves are creating chances. Under Edwards, shot conversion has improved from 6.9% to 8.7%, while big chances have jumped from nine to 15.
Wolves are not shooting more often - they are shooting better. That suggests clearer attacking structures and improved decision-making in the final third, even if the overall volume of shots remains modest.
The stylistic shift is reinforced by possession metrics. Passes per sequence have dropped from 3.4 to 3.1, and Wolves are spending less time recycling the ball.
Instead, Edwards' team are more direct and deliberate, focusing on getting into threatening areas quicker rather than controlling games through possession. Build-up attacks that end in a shot or a box touch have increased from 10 to 12, another indicator of more purposeful progression.
Defensively, the improvement is sharper. Wolves have conceded 16 goals under Edwards, compared to 22 under Pereira, despite facing more shots overall (146 vs 126). That combination suggests Wolves are allowing opponents' attempts from less dangerous areas and managing games more effectively once they fall into a defensive shape.
The pressing data helps explain why. PPDA [Opposition Passes Allowed per Defensive Action] has risen from 10.4 to 13.4, indicating Wolves are pressing less aggressively high up the pitch. But their average start distance has dropped from 41.2 metres to 39.4, meaning defensive sequences are beginning closer to their own goal.
In practice, Wolves are sitting slightly deeper, compressing space and forcing teams to work harder for high-quality chances rather than engaging in risky, disjointed pressing.
High turnovers have also fallen from 67 to 61, reflecting a move away from chaotic transitional football. Wolves are conceding territory more willingly, but in exchange, they are more compact and less exposed.
The concern remains big chances conceded, which have risen from 19 to 24. That highlights where Wolves must improve if progress is to translate into points. But taken together, the numbers show a team with a clearer identity, creating better chances at both ends of the pitch, and a tactical structure that makes sense for a side fighting at the bottom.
So, what do you think about the current situation, Wolves fans?
