When asked to explain what went wrong at Fulham, Johnstone said: “Pretty much everything – I’m being completely honest.
“It’s difficult to find words. There’s a lot of emotions, it’s very difficult in there [the dressing room].”
Wolves supporters again barracked the players after they went over at the final whistle – and angrily turned on Pereira again.
The defeat had all the hallmarks of a side doomed for the drop: conceding an early goal, a 36th-minute red card for Emmanuel Agbadou following a Fulham break and a comical Yerson Mosquera own goal.
Pereira said on Friday he did not feel the club was in crisis, but it was a “crisis of results”, and the Craven Cottage display definitely set the alarm bells ringing.
No team has survived in the Premier League with two points after 10 games and, of the previous 20 sides winless after 10 games of a top-flight season, 14 were relegated.
Last season Wolves had three after drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace on 2 November and, while they survived after replacing Gary O’Neil with Pereira, the picture looks bleaker this time around.
“I don’t have the answer [to how Wolves can be the ones to survive] but I can answer by saying last season, do you think for a club like Wolves, it was possible to win six games in a row?” said Pereira.
“Very difficult, even for the big teams, it’s difficult to win six games in a row. This is my answer.”
Will Pereira get the chance to turn things around though?
“I’m doing my best, working hard to help my players and club. I cannot control the time, the confidence the club has in our work,” he added.
“What I can say is me and my staff, we are trying everything, changing the system, changing the players, to help the team perform and get results.”
A 3-2 defeat by Burnley last Sunday – Wolves beaten by a side who were happy to settle for a point with 15 minutes remaining – and Wednesday’s 4-3 Carabao Cup home loss to Chelsea at least had spirit and fight.
They were limp at Fulham, committing mistakes – including Santi Bueno’s gaffe for Ryan Sessegnon’s opener – and left Pereira disappointed on just how bad it was during his tenure.
“It was the worst [performance],” said the Portuguese, whose side last tasted victory against Leicester City on 26 April.
“I felt my team physically was not at the level to face Fulham. Tactically with some mistakes, technically we were not there. We missed a lot of passes, movements and we conceded the first goal.
“The game for us and Fulham was not a fantastic game to see but after the red card it was very difficult.”
