Wolves manager Gary O’Neil dismissed speculation about his job security following a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town, but he did not hold back in criticising his players.
He vowed to hold them accountable after their fourth straight loss, which saw the team drop to 19th in the Premier League table.
Jack Taylor’s stoppage-time header sealed the win for Ipswich, adding to the defensive woes Wolves displayed throughout the match.
An early Matt Doherty own goal put Wolves on the back foot, and despite Matheus Cunha equalising, Taylor’s late strike from a corner handed Ipswich all three points.
Tensions boiled over after the final whistle, with Rayan Ait-Nouri shown a second yellow card for his conduct, compounding Wolves’ misery.
It was the second consecutive match marred by post-game incidents, following Mario Lemina’s clash with staff after their loss to West Ham.
Speaking post-match, O’Neil was critical of his players’ decision-making in key moments.
“When the players step out of line, they’re heavily punished by me. I haven’t seen it, but Rayan will know how I feel about it already because getting a second yellow card and being unavailable for next week’s game can have catastrophic consequences,” he said.
O’Neil didn’t hold back in criticising his team’s defensive errors, particularly in the final moments.
“We’ve just battered Ipswich’s door down for the whole second half, and then two people decide to change positions to defend a corner. They need to make better decisions,” he added.
He also highlighted the chaotic moment when, with Cunha off for treatment, Wolves lost composure and pressed Ipswich’s goalkeeper with 10 men.
“It’s absolutely ludicrous. It’s a ludicrous decision.”
When asked about his own future, O’Neil was unfazed.
“I am honestly not interested in my own position,” he said.
“I know the work that I do every day and the situation we’re in. Of course, people can point a finger at me, but some of the responsibility has to land on the players. When we get in good situations and we spoon the ball off the pitch, I can’t help them with that. That’s like, ‘Come on guys, it’s the Premier League now.’”
O’Neil remained resolute, even acknowledging that his position was under increasing pressure.
“With every result, the chances of me losing my job will heighten. But it doesn’t concern me. The situation drives me to want to be better and get more out of the group.”
The Wolves boss did not mince his words about the goals Wolves conceded. On Taylor’s late header, he said: “The first goal is unacceptable for Premier League level. Liam Delap did that a lot when he played under-18s, bashing people out of the way. But that’s not acceptable at this level.”
O’Neil stressed the need for improvement across the board. “The really damning verdict is that when we are close to maximum, we’re still not able to come out on top in a game that we should have won easily. You either find a way to be good enough, or you get replaced. That goes for me and the players.”
Ait-Nouri’s suspension, compounded by his post-match second yellow card, rules him out of next week’s trip to Leicester. Ipswich’s Liam Delap, who was also booked after being substituted, will miss their next match against Newcastle.
For Ipswich, the late winner was a welcome change after conceding multiple last-minute goals this season.
Their manager, Kieran McKenna, praised the team’s resilience.
“That’s football, and these moments are moments to cherish for everyone involved in the club. We’ve had a few go against us this year, but today we came out on top.”
McKenna acknowledged the fine margins that decide games for a club like Ipswich.
“We’re not going to blow teams out of the water, so games are decided on tiny details. Today, we came out on top of it.”
The victory continues Ipswich’s impressive Premier League return, as they move further from the relegation zone, leaving Wolves to face an uphill battle in their fight for survival. For O’Neil, the next week will be crucial as he works to rally his squad and stop the rot.