When Rob Edwards returned to Wolverhampton Wanderers as manager in November 2025, he expected a warm welcome. What he got instead was a 2-0 thrashing at Molineux Stadium — and a stark reminder of just how deep the club’s crisis has become. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, Crystal Palace ruined his homecoming with goals from Daniel Muñoz and Yeremy Pino, leaving Wolves rooted to the bottom of the Premier League with a record of 0 wins, 2 draws, and 10 losses. The final whistle at 90'+6' didn’t just end a match. It sealed the worst start to a top-flight season in Wolves’ 145-year history.
Edwards’ return, and the weight of expectation
Rob Edwards had once been the man who steadied Wolves during a turbulent 2022-23 campaign. He was fired after just 14 months, replaced by Gary O’Neil — who, in turn, was sacked on November 14, 2025, after six straight losses. Edwards was brought back less than a week before this match, with fans hoping he’d bring back structure, discipline, and maybe even hope. But the team that took the pitch was a shadow of what he’d built before. No rhythm. No spark. No goals. And worst of all — no belief.
"This certainly isn’t one of the easiest games he could have had," said NBC Sports analyst during the broadcast. "To begin his tenure here, against a side that’s been clicking... it’s a nightmare start."
The goals that broke Molineux
The first goal came at 63 minutes. A corner from the left. Maxence Lacroix swung it in. The ball bounced off a pair of Wolves defenders — one of them clearly out of position — and landed at the feet of Daniel Muñoz, the Colombian right-back who hadn’t scored in the Premier League since 2023. He didn’t hesitate. One touch. One shot. Goal. The Molineux Stadium fell silent. Even the home fans, usually loud even in defeat, just stared.
Then, six minutes later, it got worse. Adam Wharton, the 21-year-old English midfielder, threaded a pass through the heart of Wolves’ defense. Yeremy Pino, the Spanish winger with the pace of a startled deer, sprinted past two defenders and slotted it low past José Sá. The goal was clinical. Brutal. And for Wolves, utterly devastating.
Wolves didn’t manage a single shot on target in the entire second half. Not one. ESPN’s report called it "puncturing the bubble at Molyneux" — a poetic way of saying the illusion of recovery had been shattered. Their winless streak hit 12 matches. Their goal difference plunged to -20, the worst in the league. They’ve now conceded 34 goals in 12 games — more than any other team in Premier League history at this stage of a season.
Palace’s rise, and the table’s new order
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace soared. With this win, they jumped to 20 points — five wins, five draws, two losses — and into fourth place, just ahead of Brighton and Bournemouth. Their +7 goal difference ranks among the top five in the league. Oliver Glasner, their Austrian manager, has turned them into one of the most disciplined, dangerous teams in the top half. This was their first away win since August.
"We knew Wolves were struggling," Glasner said post-match. "But we didn’t come here to be charitable. We came to win. And we did."
What’s next for Wolves — and Edwards?
The next match is November 29, 2025, away at Aston Villa. A team with 18 points and a solid defense. If Wolves lose — and they’re heavy favorites to — they’ll be 13 games without a win. That’s the longest winless streak in the club’s history. And if they don’t start showing improvement by December, Edwards’ second tenure could be over before the new year.
For now, the fans are divided. Some still believe in Edwards. Others are calling for immediate intervention from owner Fosun. One banner at Molineux read: "We didn’t bring him back to watch this."
Historical context: Wolves’ descent into chaos
Wolves haven’t finished outside the top half since 2019. But since the 2021-22 season, they’ve cycled through five managers. Three of them lasted less than a year. The club’s transfer strategy has been erratic — selling key players like Matheus Cunha and Adama Traoré, then replacing them with underwhelming, unproven names. The academy hasn’t produced a single Premier League starter this season.
Compare this to Crystal Palace: they’ve had Glasner for two full seasons. They’ve invested in youth — Pino, Wharton, and Lacroix are all under 26. Their squad is balanced, tactically flexible, and emotionally resilient. Wolves? They look like a team playing for survival — and not even that’s working.
The Premier League’s official website summed it up best: "Crystal Palace go fourth after win on Edwards’ Wolves debut." The irony wasn’t lost on anyone. A man who once saved Wolves now watches them sink — while his old team climbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rob Edwards under so much pressure after just one game?
Because Wolves are in the worst possible position: 20th in the Premier League with zero wins, 10 losses, and a -20 goal difference — the worst in the league. Edwards was brought back to stop the bleeding, not deepen it. One loss might be acceptable; a 2-0 defeat at home, with no second-half shots on target, suggests deeper problems. Fans and owners expect results, not excuses.
How did Crystal Palace manage to win despite losing their last two away games?
They adapted. After back-to-back away losses to Manchester City and Liverpool, manager Oliver Glasner shifted to a more compact 4-2-3-1, focusing on quick transitions and set pieces. Daniel Muñoz’s goal came from a corner — something Palace had scored from in their last three matches. Their discipline and counter-attacking efficiency overwhelmed a Wolves side that had no midfield control or defensive shape.
What does this result mean for Wolves’ survival chances?
It’s dire. With 2 points from 12 games, Wolves need 21 more to realistically escape relegation — meaning they’d need to win 7 of their remaining 26 matches. That’s a 27% win rate. Only one team in Premier League history (Sunderland in 2004-05) has avoided relegation with fewer than 30 points. Wolves are on pace for 18. Unless they drastically improve, relegation is all but certain.
Who are the key players for Crystal Palace right now?
Yeremy Pino, with 5 goals and 3 assists this season, is their most dangerous attacker. Daniel Muñoz, once a fringe player, has become a set-piece threat and defensive rock. Adam Wharton, the 21-year-old midfielder, has emerged as the engine of their play, completing 92% of his passes in this match. And goalkeepers Sam Johnstone and Jack Butland have kept 4 clean sheets in the last 7 games — a huge turnaround from last season’s leaks.
Is there any precedent for a manager returning to a club and failing so quickly?
Yes. Steve Bruce returned to Hull City in 2016 after a brief absence — and lost his first game 4-1. But Hull were in a better position then. The closest parallel is Steve McClaren at Middlesbrough in 2009 — he returned after a year away, lost his first match 2-1, and was sacked within three months. Edwards’ situation is worse: his team is in freefall, the squad is undermanned, and the fanbase is fractured. Survival, not success, is the only goal now.
What’s the significance of Crystal Palace moving into 4th place?
It’s a seismic shift. Palace hadn’t been in the top four since 2013. Now, with 20 points and a +7 goal difference, they’re ahead of clubs like Tottenham and Manchester United. It signals not just a good season, but a potential European qualification push. For a club that spent years battling relegation, this is the kind of progress that changes the entire culture — and could attract top-tier talent next summer.
