A second piece for BBC Sport this week about how O'Neil must win the Molineux battle against Southampton
As Wolves prepare to host Southampton, the weight of expectation is heavy. Bottom of the table after conceding 27 goals is not where Wolves fans expected to be.
Gary O’Neil may insist that it’s not a “must win,” but the reality feels starkly different. While technically it’s not a definitive match in terms of relegation, with plenty of fixtures left, the stakes are high for O’Neil and his team. This is a battle O’Neil needs to win.
The general consensus among Wolves fans we’ve spoken to is clear: time’s run out. Initially, there was a lot of patience due to tough fixtures, but opinions have shifted, and many now doubt O’Neil’s ability to navigate Wolves out of this predicament. Another lacklustre performance could lead to a charged atmosphere at Molineux, with fans voicing their discontent loudly.
There’s uncertainty about whether Wolves’ owners, Fosun, see eye to eye with the fans on this. With O’Neil’s team recently receiving a new four-year contract, they seem reluctant to pay severance. However, as savvy business people, they understand the financial repercussions of relegation far outweigh the costs of a managerial change. The risk of losing Premier League status is a gamble they’re unlikely to take lightly.
Though we have been told that easier fixtures have arrived and better results are due, the problems persist, and even a win might only postpone the inevitable.
With a quarter of the season gone and just three points accrued, something clearly has to change. Looking at this season’s fixtures, we have only secured three points, while the same matches last season earned us 12.
We can’t keep blaming our current position on difficult fixtures.
Sometimes you have to make a change for the greater good.
