Wolverhampton Wanderers were left facing serious questions after their dramatic 4–2 defeat to West Ham United in the EFL Championship on September 1, 2026, with former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor particularly unimpressed by what he saw from the Wolves goalkeeper.
The defeat was a painful result for Wolves, who conceded four times against a West Ham side that repeatedly found ways through their defensive structure. Although Wolves managed to score twice themselves, their inability to prevent West Ham from creating and converting chances ultimately proved decisive.
For a team hoping to compete strongly in the Championship, conceding four goals in one match immediately puts the spotlight on defensive organisation. The goalkeeper, defenders and midfielders all have responsibilities when a team is repeatedly exposed, but one Wolves player has now received especially fierce criticism.
Agbonlahor has never been afraid to offer a strong opinion when he believes a player’s performance has fallen below the required standard. Following the West Ham defeat, his assessment was particularly severe, with the former striker questioning both the goalkeeper’s performance and his reaction to the goals Wolves conceded.
The criticism centres on communication and leadership. Agbonlahor believes the goalkeeper should be taking greater responsibility when the defence is under pressure rather than appearing frustrated with teammates.
The Wolves player at the centre of Agbonlahor’s criticism is José Pedro Malheiro de Sá, the experienced Portuguese goalkeeper who wears the club’s No. 1 shirt. Born in Braga on January 17, 1993, Sá stands 1.92 metres tall and has been an important figure in Wolves’ squad.
Agbonlahor’s assessment left little doubt about how disappointed he was with the goalkeeper’s display against West Ham.
“I was watching José Sá against West Ham and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Four goals shipped, absolute zero communication, and throwing his hands in the air like it’s someone else’s fault! If I’m the manager, he doesn’t put that Wolves shirt on ever again. Drop him now, because he is costing this team every single week!”
Those comments are likely to generate plenty of discussion among Wolves supporters, particularly after a match in which their side conceded four goals.
fan reactions
@WolvesTalk
“Four goals conceded against West Ham is unacceptable. Sá and that defence need serious questions asked. This cannot continue.”
@OldGoldFaithful
“Agbonlahor might be harsh, but I understand the frustration. Wolves need a goalkeeper who commands the box and gives confidence to the defenders.”
@MolineuxVoice
“The problem isn’t only José Sá. The entire defence was exposed tonight. We can’t seriously talk about promotion while defending like this.”
@WolvesCentral
“4–2 down and the defensive organisation was nowhere near good enough. The Wolves manager has a massive job fixing this.”
@WWFCForever
“Sá will get the headlines because four went in, but this was a team defensive failure. We need to stop blaming one player for everything.”
The wider Wolves supporter discussion after the match also focused heavily on the defensive problems, with one thread describing the defence as “utterly embarrassing” and arguing that it could cost Wolves their promotion ambitions.
The biggest question is whether Sá should carry the responsibility for the entire defensive collapse. Goalkeepers are naturally exposed when a team concedes heavily, but four goals can rarely be attributed to one player alone.
West Ham’s attacking players also deserve credit for taking advantage of opportunities, while Wolves’ outfield players had their own responsibility for allowing dangerous situations to develop.
Nevertheless, Agbonlahor’s argument is that an experienced goalkeeper must provide more than shot-stopping. Communication, organisation and composure are crucial qualities, particularly when a team is facing sustained pressure.
His criticism of Sá’s body language is also significant. Agbonlahor believes that showing frustration toward teammates rather than taking command can have a negative impact on the rest of the defence.
The Wolves manager will now have to decide how much weight to give those concerns. A change in goal would be a major decision, particularly because Sá is an experienced player who has spent considerable time representing the club.
At the same time, the 4–2 loss to West Ham on September 1 provides the Wolves manager with plenty of evidence to analyse. Four goals conceded cannot simply be ignored, especially if similar defensive problems have appeared in previous matches.
The defeat also serves as a reminder that Wolves need greater consistency if they are going to achieve their objectives in the Championship. Scoring twice away from home or scoring twice in a high-profile fixture is encouraging, but it becomes difficult to earn points when the defensive performance is so vulnerable.
For Sá, the response must come on the pitch. Goalkeepers inevitably face criticism after conceding four goals, and the best way to answer questions about their position is with a commanding performance in the next match.
Whether he gets that opportunity, however, is now a decision for the Wolves manager.
Agbonlahor has made his position unmistakably clear: he believes Sá should be dropped. His comments have added another layer of pressure to a Wolves side already dealing with the disappointment of the 4–2 defeat.
The coming selection will therefore be closely watched. If Sá starts the next match, it will suggest the Wolves manager remains confident in his goalkeeper. If he is left out, Agbonlahor’s criticism will suddenly look even more significant.
For now, one thing is certain: the 4–2 defeat to West Ham has opened a major debate about Wolves’ defensive reliability, and José Sá is firmly at the centre of it.
