Wolves endured a humbling 4-2 defeat at home to Bournemouth, with Gary O’Neil unable to get one over his former club. A hat-trick of penalties from Justin Kluivert highlighted Wolves’ defensive frailties as they were comprehensively outplayed.
Despite Jorgen Strand Larsen’s brace for the hosts, Wolves were never truly in the game after falling 3-1 behind by the 20th minute. The result left fans at Molineux frustrated, with calls for O’Neil’s sacking growing louder.
Bournemouth Fans Taunt O’Neil
Adding insult to injury, Bournemouth fans took delight in mocking their former manager. O’Neil, who guided the Cherries to safety during the 2021/22 campaign, was sacked last summer and replaced by Andoni Iraola.
Although O’Neil managed a win against Bournemouth last season, he has now suffered back-to-back defeats to his old side. Bournemouth’s travelling supporters were vocal throughout, chanting
“Gary, what’s the score?” as their team led 4-2. Reports even suggest that some Wolves fans joined in the taunts, underscoring the mounting pressure on the Englishman.
O’Neil Faces a Fight to Save Wolves
For Gary O’Neil, the criticism is unlikely to subside unless Wolves pull away from the relegation zone. The team’s performances have offered little cause for optimism, with individual errors and defensive lapses proving costly week after week.
The Wolves squad boasts enough quality to avoid a relegation battle, but their inability to tighten up at the back has left them vulnerable. If O’Neil cannot rectify these issues swiftly, his position will become increasingly untenable.
Wolves’ struggles have baffled fans and pundits alike, and the onus is now on O’Neil to deliver results. Without significant improvement, Wolves risk a disastrous drop to the Championship.
