Gary O’Neil says that performance against Manchester City was back to what he expects from his group, and he’s convinced the points will arrive soon.
His side put in a disciplined performance, after scoring an impressive opening goal, and held on for a result until injury time when City struck late with a controversial winner. However, after the disappointment at Brentford a fortnight ago, O’Neil has renewed belief in his group returning their poor start to the season behind.
On having no luck
“They kept asking questions, but we kept finding the answers. We concede the controversial goal late on, and we concede off a defender coming inside on his weaker foot and put in the top corner. So, the things that could go against us today, definitely did, but we have to take the positives from what we've managed to do there for a very long time against the best side around. So, lots of positives, and we need to get ready for next weekend.”
On spirits in the dressing room
“Down, as you would expect, for the hard work that's gone in, for the preparation that's gone into that, and how successful it was, to then just leave with hard luck stories and Wolves were great, so it feels like a big blow. I was very critical of them in the Brentford dressing room, obviously. I felt hurt by the way we'd just gone off and done our own stuff, and today was a return more like what we need to be. We've been it a lot this year, but it's just such a cruel run of fixtures that we've got to face.
“Away games in the Premier League are really tough. Our home games have been City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle, probably the toughest start. But there's no excuses and there's no hiding place, so we need to keep standing up. If these games had come sort of spread out, the results wouldn't look quite so bad, but as it is, we need to make sure we just keep producing the best of ourselves, and the team will be fine. The team will pick up enough points to have a successful season. We just need to get it started.”
On a good goal scored
“Good goal. Really good chance as well, when Nelson was one versus one later in the first half and a good moment with Carlos. It's tough, it’s so hard for the lads. They're defending for so long. It's so hard to get out. You ask them to be clinical and show real quality, but they've just been working their socks off for ages without the ball.
“They gave everything. They showed what they are, which is what I asked. You look at Brentford two weeks ago compared to today, the way they followed game plan and the way they stuck to the structure. Big, big difference. So, we need to make sure that it looks more like that more often.”
On the VAR decision
“I knew that Bernardo Silva was very close to the goalkeeper live. So, there was always a chance that it would be disallowed. Our goal against West Ham last year came back to me fairly quickly, and we sent images to the referees showing that the West Ham goalkeeper could clearly see the ball. Tawanda was down enough that the goalkeeper could see the ball at the point of contact.
“The reasons that we were given for it being disallowed were that he was still in close proximity to the goalkeeper. So, even though his line of vision wasn't impacted, he was in close proximity, and it had an effect on him. Bernardo Silva is less than a yard away from Jose's feet.
“So, I think that same reasoning should be applied to this one, but it wasn't, and we have to accept it. So, I didn't want to pick up any yellow cards, some of the subs, and it's an emotional time, so I was really calm about it. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do, the refs will give the decision. We have to respect it, and we move on.”
On Sa impressing in goal
“It’s not a headache. Johnson was injured today and Jose's trained really well since Sam came in, he’s been excellent. Sam was injured today, but Jose was always ready, always ready, and put in a real good performance.”
On the fans sticking with the team
“There is an awful lot of good work going on, and I hope they know the situation. I’ve bumped into a lot of people in the last two weeks around Wolves, and every single message I received was just supportive. They understand the situation, they understand the transfers, and they understand what we're trying to do with the younger players, and that we're trying to get them up to Premier League level and the fixture list.
“I am responsible for everything, so no problem. The goal at the end, we can blame the referee if we want, or we can blame me. It's my team that conceded a corner. So, I'll look at me before I look at the officials. The first thing I did when I got in my office was ask how Stones got ahead of three. Happy to be responsible for all of it, I'd just be a bit happier if we had a few more points.”
