Doherty urges Wolves to prove they are not cowards as club eyes January reinforcements after Brentford defeat

Wolves were beaten 2-0 at home by Brentford, leaving the club rooted at the foot of the Premier League table and threatening an unwanted record. With the campaign later heading into a busy period, the defeat kept Wolves without a league win in their opening 15 games and intensifies pressure on the players and coaching staff as Christmas approaches.

Matt Doherty, speaking to Premier League Productions after the Brentford result, challenged his teammates to prove they are not cowards and to show they have the spine to fight until the end of the season. He said the squad is lacking belief to win games and suggested changes were needed to inject fresh energy, hinting that January could bring loan additions or other reinforcements. The defender noted that the atmosphere at Molineux has dipped and that the team needs a lift, even as the club’s leadership considers options beyond the current squad.

Doherty warned against a quiet acceptance of the situation, signaling that the club must avoid becoming known for taking the easy option. He stressed the importance of embracing a renewed sense of purpose and indicated that the club is likely to act in January to restore momentum, even if he did not specify exact positions. His comments outlined a broader expectation that the team recruit more energy and competition to push for results in the second half of the season.

Doherty has experienced the peaks and valleys of Wolves, including the high points of Nuno Espirito Santo’s era when the side finished seventh twice, reached FA Cup semifinals, and advanced in the Europa League, as well as a period of relegation to League One. The current manager, Rob Edwards, has overseen a run of six straight defeats since taking over, and he insisted there is no room to surrender. Edwards said the club cannot give up, that he and the staff will fight, and that the players must unite and fight as well. His focus remains on reshaping the dressing room’s mood and encouraging a collective response from the squad.

The upcoming fixtures will test whether Wolves can arrest their slide. A visit to Liverpool next weekend looms large, with the possibility that the winless streak could extend to 18 league games if goals are not found and results do not improve. The club’s leadership has long maintained a willingness to be proactive in January, a stance Doherty echoed, and supporters will be watching closely to see whether the market can supply the missing spark to reverse a season that has swung from promise to peril.

In a season already marked by upheaval and underachievement, the Wolves players and staff find themselves at a crossroads. The club’s approach in January—whether through loans, permanent signings, or other strategic moves—could shape the remainder of the campaign and determine whether the team can climb away from the relegation zone and rebuild confidence among supporters who have grown restless as results have failed to materialize. The coming weeks will reveal whether the leadership’s optimism about a proactive market is backed by action on the training ground, in recruitment, and on matchdays.