Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Cesar Peixoto is coming under increasing pressure from his own supporters despite the club sitting fourth in the Championship table, with fan discontent centred on his squad selection choices and a style of play supporters are finding difficult to warm to.

Chants ring out at Molineux

During Saturday's 1-0 home win over Watford, chants of "you don't know what you're doing" were audible inside Molineux. The frustration stemmed in large part from Wolves managing just three shots on target from a total of 24 attempts, a statistic that encapsulates the disconnect between the team's territorial dominance and their ability to convert it into meaningful chances.

Ryan Leister, of The Wolves Report podcast, discussed the mood on BBC Radio WM's Football Phone-In on Wednesday and pointed to one specific selection call as the flashpoint for growing supporter unease.

The Munetsi question

"The person that seems to be splitting the mix is Marshall Munetsi," Leister said. "Incredible engine, incredible professional, seems like a really good guy, but when you've got a midfielder who plays in midfield that doesn't want to be on the football, it's hardly a surprise that you're not going to be able to play through many teams."

Leister's view, as expressed on the programme, is that a tactical adjustment giving Jordan James a more prominent midfield role alongside Andre, while also freeing up Fer Lopez in attack, could allow Peixoto to coax better performances from his squad and, crucially, begin to rebuild trust with the Molineux faithful.

The warning from the podcaster was blunt: "If Wolves go into that game on Saturday and they don't start Jordan James and Wolves don't win the game, the manager is going to feel some real heat."

Support must be earned

Leister was equally direct about the relationship between performance and atmosphere, rejecting the idea that supporters should simply back the team regardless of what they see on the pitch.

"Support has to be ignited from somewhere," he said. "You can't just expect the fans to turn up and be at their roaring and angry best on a good day and not give something as well. If the football is pedestrian, expect the fans to be pedestrian as well."

It is a sentiment that places the responsibility firmly with the dugout. Fourth place in the second tier is an objectively strong position, and Wolves remain well placed in the promotion conversation. But in a division where automatic promotion is the ultimate objective for a club of Wolves' resources and ambition, a run of unconvincing displays can erode goodwill quickly, regardless of where the points tally sits.

A pivotal moment for the head coach

Peixoto arrived at Molineux as an appointment that raised eyebrows given his relatively limited managerial CV at this level, and the honeymoon period appears to be shortening. The coming fixtures, and in particular his selection decisions for Saturday's match, look set to be telling for how his standing at the club develops.

Whether he opts to hand James a starting berth and adjust his midfield structure will be watched closely not just by the supporters inside Molineux but by a fanbase that, according to Leister's assessment, is willing to get behind the team but needs a reason to do so. Fourth place buys goodwill, but it does not buy it indefinitely when the football on show leaves so much to be desired.

Frequently asked

Why are Wolves fans unhappy despite being fourth in the Championship?
Supporters have grown frustrated with what many are describing as 'pedestrian' football, highlighted by Wolves managing just three shots on target from 24 attempts in a 1-0 win over Watford. Concerns over squad selection, particularly the use of Marshall Munetsi in midfield, have added to the discontent.
Who is Marshall Munetsi and why is he causing controversy at Wolves?
Marshall Munetsi is a midfielder in the Wolves squad whose selection has divided opinion among supporters. According to podcast host Ryan Leister, Munetsi's tendency to avoid the ball in midfield makes it harder for Wolves to play through opponents, and many fans would prefer to see Jordan James start in his place.
Is Cesar Peixoto under pressure as Wolves manager?
Despite Wolves sitting fourth in the Championship, fan discontent is growing over Peixoto's selections and playing style. Chants of 'you don't know what you're doing' were heard at Molineux during the Watford win, and commentators believe the pressure will intensify if results and performances do not improve.