Wolverhampton Wanderers have made the most eye-catching start to the Championship season of any club in front of goal. Thirteen goals scored in five matches is a remarkable return, and it sets them apart from every other side in the division. The concern, and it is a real one, is what is happening at the other end.

The numbers in full

Ten goals conceded in five games means Wolves are shipping two per match on average. Only Burnley, with 12 goals against, have a worse defensive record at this stage. Derby County and Preston North End sit alongside Wolves on ten conceded, which offers some company but not much comfort. A side with genuine promotion ambitions cannot afford to keep making the lives of their own attackers that difficult.

The goal difference flatters slightly: thirteen scored against ten conceded leaves Wolves in positive territory, and on a different day that could paper over the cracks. But the underlying picture is more troubling than the raw tally suggests. It is not simply that Wolves are conceding; it is how they are conceding that should concern the supporters.

Birmingham illustrated the problem

Sunday's 2-2 draw at Birmingham City was a useful case study. Wolves led twice. They were in front after only three minutes through Fer Lopez, looked dangerous for long spells and added a second through Ladislav Krejci's header. That should have been enough to see out the match. It was not.

Birmingham's equaliser to make it 2-2 came from a backpass by Jackson Tchatchoua that looped over goalkeeper Jose Sa and into the net. Birmingham did not need a moment of brilliance to draw level; Wolves handed them an opening. That pattern, of conceding not because the opposition did something exceptional but because defensive organisation broke down, has become a recurring theme across the opening weeks.

The issues flagged are poor communication between defenders, lapses in concentration at key moments and an inability to manage a lead when the game demands it. Those are coachable problems, which is encouraging. They are also problems that compound quickly at this level if left unaddressed.

Can the attack carry the burden?

It is tempting to argue that if you score enough, the defensive record becomes a secondary concern. There is a version of that argument that holds water over a short run of fixtures. Over a 46-game Championship season, it almost never does.

The sides that sustain promotion challenges typically combine a productive attack with the ability to manage games, stay compact when under pressure and close out a 1-0 or 2-1. Wolves are showing the first quality in abundance. The second is currently missing. When you concede two per game, you are asking your forwards to score three every time just to win comfortably. That is not a sustainable model.

It is also worth noting what we do not yet have the numbers to settle: five games is a small sample. Defensive records can shift quickly once a back line settles on its shape and communication. Wolves may look back at this opening month as a teething period rather than a structural flaw. The early warning signs, however, are too clear to dismiss.

What needs to change

The ask is straightforward to identify, if harder to deliver. Wolves need cleaner decision-making in their own half, better organisation when they are protecting a lead and sharper concentration in the moments after they score. Teams in the Championship are well drilled enough to punish any lapse, and Wolves have already discovered that the hard way at Birmingham.

The attacking talent is genuine and measurable. The defensive improvement is urgent. If Wolves can tighten up at the back while maintaining their output at the other end, they have the profile of a side that could cause serious problems in this division. If they cannot, those thirteen goals will buy them a lot of excitement but not many wins.

Frequently asked

How many goals have Wolves scored and conceded so far this Championship season?
After five Championship matches, Wolves have scored 13 goals, more than any other side in the division, but have also conceded 10, an average of two per game.
What happened in Wolves' draw at Birmingham City?
Wolves led twice, with goals from Fer Lopez and Ladislav Krejci, but an own-goal backpass by Jackson Tchatchoua allowed Birmingham to equalise and earn a 2-2 draw.
Are Wolves in contention for promotion despite their defensive problems?
Their attacking record gives them a strong base, but conceding 10 goals in 5 games is a genuine concern. Most successful promotion campaigns require a tighter defensive record over a 46-game season.