The struggles of Wolverhampton Wanderers during certain months of the Premier League calendar have reached a remarkable and worrying level. Following their latest setback, Wolves have now gone 25 consecutive Premier League matches without a victory in the months of May, August, September, and October combined (D6, L19) — a streak that stretches all the way back to their 2-1 away win at Bournemouth in October 2023. Even more concerning, across their last two league seasons, the club remains winless in all 21 games played during these months (D5, L16).
It’s a strange and frustrating pattern for a side that has, at times, shown great potential. Wolves have proven they can compete with the league’s best on their day — beating the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelseaduring winter and spring runs — but when it comes to the early or late months of the campaign, the team seems to lose its rhythm entirely.
Several factors could explain this prolonged drought. Firstly, Wolves have often struggled with slow starts to the season, a problem that has persisted across multiple managerial reigns. Whether it’s adjusting to new tactics, integrating summer signings, or lacking sharpness after pre-season, the team rarely seems ready to hit the ground running in August or September. By the time form begins to stabilize, points have already been dropped, and confidence takes a hit.
The same can be said for the month of May, when fatigue, squad depth issues, and occasionally a lack of motivation — especially when mid-table safety has already been secured — tend to influence results. Wolves’ inability to maintain consistency across the full campaign has been one of their biggest challenges since returning to the Premier League in 2018.
The transition between managers has also played a role. From Bruno Lage to Julen Lopetegui and now Gary O’Neil, the team has undergone significant tactical shifts. O’Neil’s tenure brought a sense of stability and resilience last season, but the inability to convert performances into wins during these months remains a frustrating theme. Even when Wolves have played well — dominating possession or creating chances — their lack of clinical finishing has cost them dearly.
Injuries, too, have been a recurring problem. Key players such as Pedro Neto, Matheus Cunha, and Hwang Hee-chanhave all missed crucial stretches of matches in recent seasons, leaving O’Neil with limited attacking options. The loss of experience, including long-serving captain Rúben Neves and striker Raúl Jiménez, has also affected the team’s balance and leadership during difficult periods.
Ultimately, this bizarre run without a win in May, August, September, and October has become symbolic of Wolves’ broader inconsistencies — flashes of brilliance followed by frustrating lapses. For a team with ambitions of returning to the top half of the table, breaking this curse is essential.
Their next fixtures in these months will offer a clear test of character. The challenge now for O’Neil and his players is to prove that this pattern is just a statistical anomaly — and not a sign of a deeper mental or tactical flaw within the squad. 🐺⚽
