Alan Shearer delivers defiant Premier League manager sack verdict - 'It would be crazy'

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Alan Shearer says it would be crazy for Wolverhampton Wanderers to sack Vitor Pereira so soon after agreeing a new three-year contract with their head coach. Wolves announced last month that the Portuguese had penned a fresh deal after helping them avoid relegation.

They lost their first four matches of this Premier League season before that announcement, though. Wolves have not won any of their four games since then, either.

They drew 1-1 against both Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur in that run. However, they also lost to newly-promoted Leeds United and then Sunderland in their last outing.

Betfair ambassador Shearer has now told The Metro that he does not reckon they will beat Burnley this weekend, saying: "This could be a standout game for Wolves. If they were to be beaten at home by Burnley, then you would have to fear the worst.

"They have to start getting results and, if it doesn't start this weekend, then you'd fear the worst. Burnley will be stubborn, make it frustrating for them - I'm not convinced with Wolves - I'm not sure they've got enough.

"It would be crazy for Wolves to have signed Vitor Pereira on a new contract three or four weeks ago and then sack him. It was supposed to give him a position of confidence, but I imagine they're still shocked, and surprised, that they're yet to win a game.

"The atmosphere may change if Burnley beat them. But I will go with a draw."

Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said in the announcement about Pereira's new contract: "Vitor has made a very positive impact during his time at Wolves. He has brought clarity, energy and a team spirit that gives us a foundation to be successful.

"What he achieved last season was excellent, with a highly-competitive record - including six Premier League wins in a row - and a deserved nomination for the Manager of the Season award.

"Now's a time for stability. Vitor needs time to work with the squad, to build a chemistry with new players, and we will do everything to support him and his staff."

During his latest pre-match press conference, Pereira said: "If we are waiting for life to give us something, you can sit waiting and waiting and nothing happens. We must go and take from life, go and take from the game. What we need in this moment is to show hunger since the first minute.

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"I have my responsibility, and we all - the players, everybody in the club - know our responsibility. I don't believe that it's possible to be champion in October. It's impossible. And it's impossible to be relegated in October. But we know that each game is a chance to take the chance and get the points or not.

"This is another chance, an important chance, because this is a team that will fight with us for points and for the result. It is an important time to go there and show what we do in the training, because the way that I see my players is that they are a good group.

"They want to change things, they fight, they compete, they are trying everything to improve as a team and to turn over the situation. I want to see the same team that I see in training this week. I want to see the same team with personality, quality and ambition to go there and play to win the game."

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