Wolves face final humiliation as Sunderland chase European dream at Molineux

Key facts

• Wolves are bottom of the Premier League with 17 points, already relegated to the Championship.
• Sunderland sit 12th with 46 points, three points behind Bournemouth in 7th and the European places.
• Wolves have lost three successive league matches 8-0 on aggregate, including a 1-0 home defeat to Tottenham.
• Sunderland suffered a 5-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest last week, their worst home defeat since 1958.
• Wolves have not beaten Sunderland at home in seven league meetings (W3 D4).
• Sunderland have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four league encounters with Wolves, a run dating to 2012.
• Wolves are the Premier League's lowest scorers with 24 goals and have failed to score in a division-high 18 of 34 games.
• Sunderland have conceded nine goals in their last two league games, following a 4-3 defeat to Aston Villa.

A clash of contrasting fates at Molineux

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland meet on Saturday afternoon at Molineux with nothing but pride and European ambition respectively at stake. The home side, already condemned to relegation to the Championship, are playing out the final weeks of a dismal campaign that has seen them collect just 17 points from 34 matches — the lowest total in the Premier League this season. Their visitors, by contrast, remain in the hunt for a top-seven finish and a potential place in the UEFA Europa League, sitting three points behind Bournemouth in seventh with four games remaining. For Sunderland, the match represents an opportunity to bounce back from a humiliating 5-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend — their heaviest home loss in league football since a 6-1 thrashing by Birmingham City in April 1958. Four of those goals were conceded in the opening 37 minutes, a collapse that manager Regis Le Bris described as “painful,” warning his players that “when you drop your standards just by 10%, your opponent can kill you.” The Black Cats have now lost four of their last five home matches and have conceded nine goals across their last two league outings, following a 4-3 defeat to Aston Villa. Only once in their history have they shipped at least four goals in three successive league games — a run that occurred between September and October 1928.

Wolves' season of misery nears its end

Wolves cannot wait for the 2025-26 campaign to conclude. Rob Edwards’s side have won just four league games all season and have lost three consecutive matches since a 2-2 draw with Brentford in March, falling to relegation-threatened West Ham, Leeds and Tottenham by an aggregate score of 8-0. Last weekend they lost 1-0 at home to Tottenham, a result that extended their run of home league games without a defeat against Sunderland to seven (W3 D4) — a rare bright spot in an otherwise bleak season. The Old Gold are the Premier League’s lowest scorers with 24 goals and have failed to find the net in a division-high 18 of their 34 matches. The last team to endure more goalless games in a single Premier League season was Norwich City in 2021-22, who failed to score in 22 matches. Under Edwards, Wolves have at least avoided the ignominy of matching Derby County’s record low of 11 points from 2007-08, but they remain rooted to the foot of the table, three points behind managerless Burnley in 19th place. Wolves have lost all four of their Premier League matches against promoted teams this season, a statistic that bodes ill against a Sunderland side that won the reverse fixture 2-0 at the Stadium of Light in October. The Black Cats are now aiming to complete their first league double over Wolves since the 1949-50 season.

Sunderland's European push hits a speed bump

Sunderland’s 5-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest was a jarring setback for a side that had harboured genuine hopes of European football for the first time in decades. The result dropped them to 12th in the table, but with four games left they remain just three points behind Bournemouth in seventh, the final berth for the UEFA Europa League if the FA Cup winner has already qualified for Europe. The Black Cats have not played in continental competition since 1973, when they won the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Le Bris, whose side had won four of their previous six league matches before the Forest debacle, now faces the challenge of restoring morale and defensive solidity. Sunderland have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four league meetings with Wolves, a run stretching back to April 2012, and have won the last two encounters by an aggregate score of 5-0. That record offers some reassurance, but the team’s recent defensive fragility — nine goals conceded in two games — is a clear concern. “When you drop your standards just by 10%, your opponent can kill you,” Le Bris said after the Forest loss, a remark that underscores the fine margins separating success from disaster in the Premier League. Sunderland’s remaining fixtures include matches against mid-table sides and relegation battlers, making Saturday’s game at Molineux a must-win if they are to keep pressure on Bournemouth and the teams above them.

Historical context and statistical milestones

Saturday’s match carries historical weight beyond the immediate standings. Sunderland’s last league double over Wolves came 76 years ago, in the 1949-50 season, a fact that adds extra motivation for the visitors. Wolves, meanwhile, have not lost at home to Sunderland in league play since 2012, a run of seven matches without defeat (W3 D4). That unbeaten streak at Molineux is one of the few comforts for home fans enduring a season of relentless disappointment. For Wolves, the game also offers a chance to avoid further unwanted records. They have already set a club-low points total in the Premier League era, and another defeat would extend their losing run against promoted sides to five matches. Sunderland, on the other hand, are seeking to avoid a third consecutive league game in which they concede four or more goals — a feat they have not accomplished since 1928. The match also features a notable individual milestone: Wolves goalkeeper Dan Bentley, who has started 25 league games this season, will be hoping to keep only his fourth clean sheet of the campaign. Sunderland’s attack, which has scored 46 goals in 34 matches, will test Bentley and a defence that has conceded 68 goals — the second-worst record in the division.

Team news and possible lineups

Wolves are expected to field a familiar lineup under Edwards, with Dan Bentley in goal and a back three of Yerson Mosquera, Santiago Bueno and Toti Gomes. The midfield is likely to feature Pedro Lima, João Gomes, André and Hugo Bueno, with Armstrong and Mané supporting striker Arokodare in attack. The team has been hampered by injuries throughout the season, but Edwards has few fresh concerns ahead of Saturday’s match. Sunderland, meanwhile, will be without several key players due to injury, though Le Bris has not disclosed the full extent of his absentees. The Black Cats are expected to name a strong side, with the aim of rediscovering the form that saw them win four of six matches before the Forest defeat. The visitors have no suspension issues and will be eager to atone for last weekend’s heavy loss. Kick-off at Molineux is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, with both teams aware that the result could have significant implications for the final European places and for Wolves’ pride as they prepare for life in the Championship.

What lies ahead for both clubs

For Wolves, the remainder of the season is about salvaging some dignity and building momentum for a return to the Premier League. Edwards will use the final four matches to assess his squad and plan for a summer rebuild, with several players expected to depart following relegation. The club’s hierarchy has already begun preparations for the Championship, but a strong finish — starting with a positive result against Sunderland — would provide a psychological boost. Sunderland’s path to Europe is narrow but not impossible. With four games left, they need to win at least three of them and hope that Bournemouth and other rivals drop points. The Black Cats have a favourable run-in, with matches against teams in the lower half of the table, but their recent defensive lapses have raised doubts about their ability to hold off pressure. A victory at Molineux would restore belief and keep the dream of continental football alive. “The players know what is at stake,” Le Bris said, reflecting on the importance of the final stretch. “We have to show character and quality. The season is not over yet.” For Wolves, the season cannot end soon enough — but for Sunderland, the most exciting weeks may still lie ahead.

The bottom line

• Wolves are already relegated with 17 points, the lowest in the Premier League this season, and have lost three straight matches 8-0 on aggregate.
• Sunderland are three points off a European place and need to recover from a 5-0 home defeat to Forest, their worst home loss since 1958.
• Sunderland have kept clean sheets in their last four league meetings with Wolves and seek their first league double over them since 1950.
• Wolves have not lost at home to Sunderland in seven league games, a run dating to 2012.
• Wolves are the division's lowest scorers (24 goals) and have failed to score in a league-high 18 matches.
• Sunderland have conceded nine goals in their last two games and risk a third straight match with four or more goals against for the first time since 1928.