Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterSheffield United manager Chris Wilder understood what his team were up against when Wolverhampton Wanderers came to town.Speaking after Wolves beat the Blades with a last-minute goal, whose constituent parts all started the match on the away bench at Bramall Lane, Wilders comments to reporters referenced more than once that his opposite number from the Black Country has quality in both depth and abundance.Hes right on both counts. On this occasion, it was the depth that made the difference.Wolves manager Peixoto is shaping a creative attacking unitWolves let a few opportunities pass them by but the intervention of substitutes Kieran Trippier, Tommy Doyle inadvertently and Raul Jimenez gave them that little bit extra when it mattered most.Having that additional sharp edge is useful but Cesar Peixotos set-up before he deployed his substitutes was more indicative of Wolves tactical point of difference in the Championship. You may like Forget right-backs in midfield, Arsenals five-on-two shows Chelseas system is the problem Why this could be one of the best Championship seasons ever Southampton want to show the entertaining side of Tonda Eckert in Championship promotion chase Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 ListJimenezs age is a determining factor in Peixotos choice of striker; Wolves are playing between two and three times a week. Adam Armstrong moved off his moonlighting shift on the left flank to play at centre-forward and youngster Mateus Mane started in the Mexican strikers place.The rest of the Wolves midfield unit is becoming increasingly familiar in the second tier, both with each other in the aftermath of the sale of Joao Gomes and to observers seeing the connections that make Peixotos Wolves tick.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Wolves play with three attacking midfielders off a striker, and a pair of central midfielders behind them.Mane and Armstrong approach the left-wing role differently than one another but the remaining rhomboid, the Peixoto Parallelogram, is at the heart of Wolves play wherever Jimenez, Armstrong or Mane slot in beside it.22-year-old Fer Lopez operates in the middle of the three, Rodrigo Gomes outside him. Between them, theyve been stockpiling goal contributions like theyre going out of fashion. Lopez was ticking along at a goal or assist per match prior to Wolves visit to South Yorkshire. What to read next What Chelsea fans can expect from former Aston Villa set piece coach Austin MacPhee The West Bromwich Albion star making use of a Chelsea academy springboard and Englands maligned loan system How Manchester United finally fixed their transfer strategy Midfielders Andre and Marshall Munetsi played together 25 times in the Premier League. Given their fortunes last season, thats not automatically a good thing.Working as a first-choice partnership in a team expected to win is a new test and it generally looks good on them.Added attacking impetus from the heart of the teamBut the secret sauce, the flavour-packed additional topping that keeps central defenders honest, is a result of the way Lopez and Munetsi interact.Lopez drops into the middle of the pitch, often far enough to take the ball off Wolves defenders. Where other teams might use this extra man to boost their midfield numbers, Peixoto has a midfielder who will add sharpness to the shape by making the run of a forward and causing mayhem.There arent many central midfielders in the Championship whod be described as playing on the shoulder, but Munetsi does exactly that, time and time again, springing upfield thanks to the withdrawal of Lopez.Hes available for passes in behind and also to play with Mane, Lopez and a striker at close quarters, with left-back Hugo Bueno joining in for good measure.It meant that Japhet Tanganga and Mark McGuinness had to have their wits about them to prevent the Zimbabwean from causing problems on their side of Wilders back three. They managed it on Sunday, and Wolves had to find another way.Munetsis trademark run produced the first Championship goal of the season, albeit Blackburn Rovers left enough space in their half at Molineux that youd be forgiven for mistaking it for an opportunistic decision more than a planned tactic.The Wolves boss has more ideas bubbling away as the season stretches out on the other side of the international break. Peixoto spoke after the win against Sheffield United about substitute Jordan James, the former Birmingham City midfielder on loan from Rennes, who he sees as serious competition for Munetsi in the most positive sense.Peixoto is focused on Wednesdays Carabao Cup tie against Everton but the Wolves fans behind the goal where Jimenez tucked in the winner at Bramall Lane made it clear at full time that the win meant more than a jump back up the Championship table.Seven days after the win in Sheffield, Molineux will host the Black Country derby against West Bromwich Albion. Forget one point turning into three. The supporters have already set their sights on a different Sunday entirely.TOPICSChampionshipChris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance football writer specialising in West Midlands football, the Premier League, the EFL and the J.League. He is the author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Coventry Sphinx.
