By earning a goalless draw away at Brighton & Hove Albion, Gary O’Neil feels his Wolves side have shown their improvements since their last meeting with the Seagulls but insists there is still more to come from the team.
Having shipped 13 goals to Brighton in their last three clashes, Wolves were assured in defence and then aggressive in attack to try and win the latest battle at the Amex, only for the attack – which included Pedro Neto making his first Premier League start in three months – to be denied, but O’Neil was left to rue small margins which just didn’t go his team’s way in the final third.
On taking a point from the Amex
“I enjoyed it. We came to try and be aggressive. Brighton are obviously a good side and have caused us some problems with the movements and really tidy interplay as we expect, but the lads were brave, they stuck to the gameplan and went really aggressive, and probably had the better chances.
“When we look back at the xG and the stats, I’d have thought we’d have had the better of the chances, so I’m disappointed we didn’t score with the big spaces we had available to us on transition, but in terms of a team performance and it being a difficult place to come, I thought it was good.”
Another point on the board 📈
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 22, 2024
Thank you for your backing at Brighton 👏 pic.twitter.com/hip3A8krbY
On chances spurned by his forwards
“Let’s not complain about Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto because what they’ve done so far has been incredible. To raise their level from where they were performing at before to get to the numbers they are producing at the moment is very good work from them.
“You always have nights like today when the margins are so small. Pedro flashes one across the goal and Cunha has just decided to check his run on that one instead of sliding in the goal, and their goalkeeper is 40 yards out of his goal and Cunha has a heavy touch.
“There are moments where we could have won the game, but it was a good game between two good sides who went at it for 97 minutes. As nil-nils go, it was probably a very entertaining one.”
On Neto’s first start since injury
“The form he was in prior to the injury was exceptional. I think he needs the team to be in a certain place as well. Today we had to use him as a nine and he showed incredible quality still to get away from people.
“I wasn’t careful with him today because I was getting voices down the earphone that he’s done more than he should do and he needs to come off, but I wasn’t sure we were going to be taking him off yet when he could get one-v-one again and we could do with leaving him on a bit longer. But he’s worked very hard to get back and we’ve been careful with him, because he’s important to us.
“It was a 12-week injury and he managed to get back in nine, but we nursed him through the first three and a bit weeks, and now he feels good and ready to go. We still need to be careful, which is why we took him off, so now let’s see how well he recovers for a big cup game at the weekend.”
On showing their progression since the summer
“It shows that Brighton had a lot more control of the ball and something that I want us to be able to improve on. We were aggressive and we were creative on transition, but Brighton still looked a very good side and were able to manipulate the ball very well.
“It’s still a good reminder of the lads where we still want to get to with the ball, but in terms of where we are at the moment and what we have available to us – the squad is bare, and we’re having to invent someone else to play as a number nine in every game at the moment, and they’re all absolutely giving everything.
“The important thing is that they stick to the plan. We didn’t come here to just sit in front of the goal and except that Brighton are good with the ball and let them have it. We were very aggressive, did very well, could have won the game, could have lost the game, but a point, on reflection, is a fair result.”
On preparing for Sunday’s Black Country derby
“Just more of us. That’s all we ask for. We’re unbeaten in six now in all competitions and West Brom are going well, they’re going to be a good side, and I will work on them instantly after I get away from here.
“I’ll see what they are because they have a good coach and good players, and it will be a tough place to go, so it’s important the lads understand that you can lose any football match. Any football match is there to be taken and we need to treat it exactly the same as we always do.
“Be professional and go there and give absolutely everything, which I no doubt they will, and see if we can come out on the right side.”
