Cesar Peixoto admits that although he’s disappointed Wolves were unable to claim the victory over Birmingham City, he was relieved to see his side come away with an important point.
The Old Gold twice let leads slip in the Championship contest at St Andrew’s, after Fer Lopez opened the scoring on three minutes and Ladislav Krejci’s bullet header ahead of half time.
And the head coach insists his side needs to improve at the back as a collective – as well as individually – if they are to challenge at the top of the table this season.
On taking a point from St Andrew’s
“There were a lot of goals and I think we started the game well and scored first. Then we conceded, although I have some doubts about that goal because I think there may have been a handball involved. We scored the second goal and then made a mistake for 2-2.
“We tried to play in our way, but it was difficult. Birmingham play in a more direct way, looking for first balls and second balls, and they’re very strong physically. We tried to put the game into our way and, in some moments, we weren’t capable of doing that.
“The second half was more difficult. Birmingham had a lot of free-kicks and set-pieces, and they’re very dangerous in those situations because they have a lot of tall players and use a lot of blocks around our goalkeeper, which makes those moments difficult to defend.
“We had a clear chance in the last five minutes to score and didn’t take it. Overall, I think the draw is a fair result for what happened in the game.”
On coming up short
“I’m disappointed because we wanted the three points. But I think one point away from home is still a good point. It was also important not to put another defeat together after losing against West Ham.
“If you want to fight for promotion, you can’t lose too many games in a row. We’ve finished this little cycle with one point today. It’s not what we wanted and it wasn’t our best game with the ball.
“We had difficulties because Birmingham went man-to-man all over the pitch and they’re a very strong, physical team. But it’s one point. It’s not what we wanted, but we take it.”
Fer Lopez’s third league goal of the season 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/efQMM3zPa6
— Wolves (@Wolves) September 6, 2026
On goals coming at both ends
“We have to improve. For the second goal today, I don’t think it’s a collective problem with our defensive organisation. It’s more an individual mistake, and individual mistakes can happen. The important thing is that the team stayed together and fought together until the end.
“For the first goal, we can do better. Krejci jumps too early and opens the space between himself and the other centre-back. But, as I said, I also think there may have been a handball involved, but these things can happen in football.
“We have to look at the game, improve and continue to be competitive in every match. We’re going to have more games like this in the Championship, when we’re not capable of playing in our normal way, building from the back and controlling the game with possession, then we have to fight, stay organised and show the right spirit. Today we did that and came away with a point.”
On getting tighter at the back
“When we concede goals, I don’t only look at the defenders. For me, defending is a collective behaviour. If we don’t press well with the first line, the ball can arrive more easily into midfield, and then it becomes more difficult for the midfielders and defenders behind them.
“We have to improve collectively. We need to stay more compact and have the mental stability to press at the right moments and on the right triggers. Today it was difficult because Birmingham played direct balls, fought for first and second balls and were very strong from set-pieces.
“It was difficult to press high because the goalkeeper and centre-backs often kicked the ball long, but that’s a typical Championship game. We managed it as well as we could today, but we’re going to face this kind of game again, so we have to learn from it and be better next time.”
Krejci back with a goal 💥 pic.twitter.com/uVraMD6eLM
— Wolves (@Wolves) September 6, 2026
On Fer Lopez’s impact
“He’s doing well and he’s important for us, but I always prefer to speak about the team. Today, particularly without the ball, Fer worked very hard.
“With the ball, sometimes he didn’t find the right positions to receive it like he normally does, but that’s because Birmingham went man-to-man and moved a lot, so it was more difficult to find him in the right spaces at the right moments.
“The same happened with the full-backs. We had some difficulty getting the ball to our players at the right time, but Fer worked like everybody else. It wasn’t our best game with the ball, but he’s an important player for us, like the others.”
On a ‘typical’ Championship battle
“I like this atmosphere. We want to play in this kind of environment, with a full stadium. For me it’s amazing and I think the players enjoy it too. I like intense games and the intensity from the crowd adds something to the match.
“But I always want us to play in our way, and today there were moments when we weren’t capable of doing that. We knew Birmingham have a very traditional Championship style – they’re direct, they compete for first balls and second balls, they put crosses into the box and they’re strong at set-pieces. We knew that.
“It’s even more difficult because they’re very physical, very intense and they have a lot of tall players. Our job was to try to put the game into the way we wanted to play rather than the way they wanted it to be played. In some moments, we couldn’t do that. It was a difficult game, but we stayed together, stayed organised and fought. The support from our fans was amazing, and although it wasn’t our best game, we take the point.”
