Pressure Mounts on Wolves Gary O'Neil Following Third Consecutive Defeat

Dumsha Wijesinghe JadeTimes Staff

W.G.S.D.Wijesinghe is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Sports News

---

Image Source: Justin Setterfield

Wolver hampton Wanderers manager Gary O’Neil is under increasing scrutiny after his side's 2-1 loss to West Ham United on Monday, marking their third successive Premier League defeat. The result leaves Wolves in 19th place, four points adrift of safety, as they struggle to turn their season around. Both managers entered the game under pressure, but while West Ham's Julen Lopetegui eased his situation with a vital win, O’Neil’s position remains precarious. Despite the challenges, the Wolves boss remains adamant that he can guide the team to safety.

Set Piece Frailties Haunt Wolves

A significant factor in Wolves struggles has been their defensive vulnerabilities, particularly from set pieces. Tomas Soucek’s header for West Ham highlighted an ongoing issue Wolves have conceded a league high 15 goals from set piece situations this season, excluding penalties. This alarming statistic surpasses all other Premier League teams by seven goals. The issue has persisted despite the club parting ways with set-piece coach Jack Wilson in October, leaving the hierarchy alarmed as the team faces a battle to avoid relegation.

Image Source : Justin Setterfield

Challenges in Transition and Player Departures

Since O'Neil's appointment in August 2023, Wolves have undergone significant transitions. The summer transfer window saw the departures of key players, including Max Kilman to West Ham for £40 million and Pedro Neto to Chelsea for £54 million. “The club has gone through an incredible transition since I arrived,” O’Neil said. “We’ve signed players who will be great for the future, but we’ve also lost £200 million worth of talent. That makes it tougher to compete.” While acknowledging the need for improvement, O’Neil also highlighted controversial refereeing decisions during the loss to West Ham. He criticized decisions leading to both of West Ham's goals and the refusal of two penalty appeals for Wolves.

A Pivotal Week Ahead

With Wolves now firmly in the relegation zone, the upcoming fixtures could prove decisive for O’Neil's future. They face Ipswich Town, who have managed just one win in 15 league matches, followed by a trip to Leicester City, currently sitting 17th and four points clear of Wolves. Carragher noted the importance of these matches: “Sometimes a club might think about a managerial change ahead of winnable fixtures. That could be on O’Neil’s mind, but if Wolves perform well against Ipswich and Leicester, they could climb out of the bottom three.”

Despite the pressure, O’Neil remains resolute, stating, “Whenever this journey with Wolves ends, I’ll be proud of the work we’ve done. We’ll knuckle down and fight to turn things around.” The coming week will be crucial, as Wolves aim to halt their slide and revive their season under O’Neil’s leadership.