Gary O’Neil refused to discuss VAR after another contentious decision went against Wolves against Bournemouth on Wednesday night, instead focusing on how his side can bounce back from a performance he believed was his teams’ worst this season.
A poor first half saw the Cherries take the lead at Molineux through an Antoine Semeyo finish from close range, but Hee Chan Hwang saw his goal ruled out by VAR after the break after an apparent foul by Matheus Cunha. Despite the decisions going against his team, O’Neil has called for improvements across the board after the Old Gold’s winless Premier League run was extended to six.
On defeat to Bournemouth
“It was probably our worst performance. It was really poor. Individually there were too many below the level this evening. Collectively, we need to make sure this is not the level we produce.
“It was a tough evening for us, myself included, where we need to go home and have a good look at what we’ve produced and make sure we get back to where we were and what our level was.”
On an under-par showing
“We just looked a little bit flat and gave away too many unforced errors. It wasn’t even losing the ball under no pressure, we lost every duel, and every time they went long they landed on it and we didn’t.
“We lost too many balls, lost too many duels and just kept turning the ball over so often. With the way we want to play and what we want to do, we can’t do that. We have to look after the ball better than what we did this evening. It was one where we were well below the level.
“But to be fair, I thought the subs had a good impact and we made a real good do at it second half to try to bounce back after that first half performance. The second half was a small positive, but it was a tough evening.”
On areas to improve
“We need to get players back because you saw when we got Cunha on it gave us some more life, and we need to get Channy fit, he showed some little bits of what he can do today, but he’s still not back to what he was.
“We need important players to step up and manage to perform. We’ve been in a tough spot, but the performance level has still been good up until this evening. It was probably our worst performance so far this season and we need to do better.”
On decisions going against his side
“I’m not discussing officials and decisions anymore. I’ve got full focus on us and what we need to do. Everyone else can see it and make their own decision.
“I’m not interested in discussing referees and VAR decisions anymore. It’s just frustration with us and what we did tonight. That’s all.”
On the future of VAR
“It is a big topic, so I’m sure there will be a lot of people discussing it, but I’ve had enough of discussing it. I will no longer be discussing it.
“It’s important I look at myself this evening and not the officials and what’s gone on outside Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. It’s really important we look at what we’ve produced and start there.”
