Wolverhampton Wanderers are five points off the Championship's top two, but they are heading in the wrong direction. Back-to-back home draws, a depleted squad, and a sullen Molineux crowd are combining to raise uncomfortable questions about whether this side has the depth to stay in contention through the winter.

The injury burden is real, but not the whole story

Cesar Peixoto has not been shy about naming the problem. After Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Portsmouth, the Wolves head coach pointed directly to his absentees: Raul Jimenez, whose return is now expected significantly later than first hoped; Adam Armstrong, missing for two matches after carrying an unexpectedly heavy workload; and Kieran Trippier, absent for back-to-back games. Fer Lopez, who was arguably the most impressive player in the division before the international break, has also visibly lost his sharpest edge following a knock picked up on international duty with Spain Under-21s.

"I think if you have Trippier, if you have Armstrong, if you have Raul or other experienced players, in this kind of game they help us," Peixoto said. That much is plainly true. But it was always a certainty that senior players would miss games at some point, injured or not. A squad built to compete in the Championship needed cover, and the Tuesday evening results suggest those margins are uncomfortably thin.

Quality in the building, but where is the courage?

What makes the recent wobble harder to excuse is the calibre of the players who have been available. Several of those who started against Portsmouth were Premier League footballers last season. Peixoto himself acknowledged that the issue on the night was not entirely one of personnel: "You have to take the risk to play with courage to win the games," he said. His diagnosis was that his side failed to do so in the first half, falling back on safe, predictable patterns rather than the mobility and quick transitions he wants.

This is a critical distinction. Formations and fitness can be managed around injuries. A lack of on-field leadership and risk-taking is a harder cultural problem to fix. Peixoto's increasingly animated presence on the touchline suggests he sees it too, yet there has been nobody on the pitch to ignite things from within.

The table still offers a path, but the window is narrowing

Five points off the top is recoverable territory, particularly this early in the campaign. The back-to-back wins over Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion last month were evidence that this squad can produce the grit and nerve required at this level. A four-game good spell is easy to be sceptical about, and so it has proved: two poor home displays have already wiped out the goodwill those results generated, and the atmosphere at Molineux has reverted to the sombre tone that has been familiar in recent seasons.

The concern is not the five-point gap itself, but the rate at which it could grow if the injury list does not clear quickly. Wolves have dropped five points in just their last two home matches. Should that pattern persist over the next four or five fixtures, a promotion challenge risks becoming a scramble for the play-offs, and after that a conversation nobody at this club wants to be having.

Peixoto needs at least one player to seize a game by the scruff of its neck and drag the rest along. Whether that spark comes from Lopez rediscovering his early-season form, Armstrong's return to fitness, or someone less heralded stepping into the breach, it needs to come soon. Saturdays like the upcoming Watford fixture are precisely the sort of game where momentum is either rebuilt or further eroded. There is no neutral outcome at this stage of the season.

Frequently asked

Why are Wolves struggling in the Championship at the moment?
A combination of key injuries to Raul Jimenez, Adam Armstrong, Kieran Trippier and a dip in form from Fer Lopez has disrupted Wolves' rhythm. Head coach Cesar Peixoto has also criticised his side's lack of courage and mobility in recent home games.
How far are Wolves off the Championship top two?
As of late October 2026, Wolves are five points off the top of the Championship table, though they have dropped points in back-to-back home games which has stalled their early-season momentum.
When is Raul Jimenez expected to return for Wolves?
According to reports, Jimenez's return from injury is now expected to be significantly later than initially hoped, though no precise date has been confirmed.