“He tried to KILL me, totally out of character”- Vitor Pereira says one Wolves star ‘tried to kill’ him against West Ham – it was out of character
Wolves secured a crucial 1-0 victory over West Ham on Tuesday, edging closer to Premier League survival for another season.
The Old Gold controlled the first half, taking the lead through Jorgen Strand Larsen, whose deflected shot found the net past Alphonse Areola.
Wolves were unlucky not to extend their advantage when Marshall Munetsi fired a clear chance against the crossbar from close range.
Fortunately, their missed opportunities didn’t come back to haunt them, as a solid defensive display in the second half helped them hold on for all three points, moving them 12 points clear of the relegation zone.
Vitor Pereira was pleased with the win but was also critical of one player’s performance, which nearly gave him a scare.
Toti Gomes ‘almost gave Pereira a heart attack’ vs West Ham
In the second half, West Ham pushed hard for an equalizer, with Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta leading the charge. They applied significant pressure on José Sá’s goal and, at one point, could have leveled through Evan Ferguson, but Wolves’ defense held firm.
However, Toti Gomes had some nervy moments, misplacing passes in his own half and gifting possession in dangerous areas.
Typically reliable in ball distribution, Toti’s performance on the night was uncharacteristically sloppy. Pereira humorously remarked that the Portuguese defender “tried to kill him,” as reported by journalist Nathan Judah.
Fortunately for Wolves, Toti’s mistakes didn’t lead to any costly consequences, and they held on to secure the win. However, the second-half struggles served as a reminder to Pereira that improvement is needed.
Toti’s performance vs West Ham
Defensively, Toti was solid, winning his ground duels and making crucial tackles. He also dealt well with Bowen’s threat on the left side of defense, winning aerial duels and positioning himself effectively.
That said, his distribution was below his usual standard. He misplaced 11 passes and lost possession a staggering 15 times.
Toti Gomes stats vs West Ham:
- 90 minutes played
- 11 clearances
- 4 tackles
- 4/6 ground duels won
- 15 times possession lost
- 37/48 passes completed (77%)
- 1 accurate long ball
It was a rare off-performance from the usually consistent defender, and he’ll need to tighten up his game ahead of Saturday’s match against Ipswich Town.
