Gary O’Neil was delighted as his Wolves side produced their best team performance of the season to dispatch Fulham 4-1 on the road to earn a first away win since February.
Matheus Cunha struck twice, while Joao Gomes and Goncalo Guedes were also on the scoresheet as a team missing three of their four senior centre-backs – and had captain Mario Lemina slotting in at the back – earned a second consecutive win.
Although reserving praise for the displays of Cunha and Lemina, O’Neil believed it was the showings from the whole team which need to be credited for extended Wolves’ unbeaten run to four matches.
On three points at Fulham
“It’s one of my favourite performances probably in my time as a coach. It took a lot of courage and character. When you asked me about the team before the game, I gave a lot of positive messages, but we knew that this was going to be a real tough test because of the players that we were missing, and every single one of the players managed to stand up and do an incredible job.
“It wasn't as if we nicked a win today, I thought we were good value. There were some fantastic goals, some real gritty, hard-working defending, and something that the players deserve because they've worked hard and they've not had too many things going their way so far.
“Since we lost at Brentford, we pushed Man City close, and then we go four unbeaten, so a real good response to a tough afternoon at Brentford.”
😍 @mathcunha20 pic.twitter.com/cqvlzSRjs8
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 23, 2024
On an impressive team performance
“We knew we worked very hard and trying to figure out the best places to move the ball to, and how, and the first goal, straight off the training ground, obviously takes incredible quality from Matheus to finish it off, but that’s something we work on a lot.
“There was a lot of just real good stuff that we worked on. It looked like a real composed performance with a ball, a well-organised performance without it, and it's important the players make sure they understand what gets them to that today, because it's very easy to think we were great with a ball and we made some great passes, but there was a lot more that went into it around the organisation and togetherness. It’s important we take that forward with us.”
On Matheus Cunha showing his quality
“His is our talisman. He knows what I think of him – I love him. I love working with him, I love trying to help him get better and the improvements he's made are just incredible. When I came, there was an undeniable, incredible talent, but somebody that didn't fully understand how to make it the most effective and we get him in some great spots now.
“The team know how to utilise him, and he's a great guy. That was probably his best out of possession performance as well. I know I probably drive some people mad talking about out of possession, but it is important to us.
“I know what he’s going to bring with the ball, but today, he fitted very well into our possession structure and led from the front, and brought some unbelievable qualities to the game, and you need it. You can be as well coached and as well organised as you like, but at this level, you do need quality and Matheus brings us that in abundance.”
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— Wolves (@Wolves) November 23, 2024
On a first goal off the training ground
“Matheus’ run for the first goal was an excellent run. We knew that maybe Mario would get some time on the ball in that spot and we knew that we might be able to use having a midfielder in the back line, as it does give you some advantages.
“There was a fantastic pass and a fantastic take, and then on transition, when we defend low and we're compact, if we can get it into Matheus in those moments, he brings unbelievable individual flare and understanding of when to release the ball and where.
“We’re delighted we have him, and he’s going to be a big part of what we do this season.”
On Lemina playing at centre-back
“I thought he was excellent there. It’s not that I thought it was excellent for a midfielder playing there, I thought it was an excellent centre-back performance. Physically, he has the tools to play there, he's strong, he's quick, he's very good with the ball, but obviously there’s a concern when you put someone there who hasn’t played there.
“I don't think he's ever played there in a four, but he hasn't played in the back line for years, there were concerns maybe in his position stuff. We did a bit of work with him yesterday on understanding positioning and Jimenez, but he was excellent at all of it.
“I thought it was a real top performance, and that’s not easy to do at the highest level, when you're thrown into a position that you're not used to. There were so many good performances, it feels wrong to speak too much about individuals, because you could go on forever; Joao Gomes, Rayan, Toti Gomes – Toti’s our number one left back and he just had to play centre-half with Mario Lemina and didn't put a foot wrong.
“Jose Sa as well. Since we brought Sam in to fight and to stay with a group and to earn back his place, there’s some real good stories in there of what the lads have had to go through to get to this point. But we need to move forward again.”
