Gary O’Neil believes Wolves’ early goal in their first win of the Premier League season was crucial in helping to settle the Molineux crowd as his team were able to overcome a difficult afternoon against Southampton.
After Pablo Sarabia opened the scoring inside two minutes with Wolves’ quickest goal in the competition, the head coach also lavished praise on Matheus Cunha, following the Brazilian’s impact in helping his side claim three points, thanks to a pinpoint assist for the Spaniard before scoring a stunning second which settled the contest.
On coming out on top against Southampton
“It wasn’t easy and it was never going to be easy. Southampton are a unique test and they have a unique way of playing, and they turned up in a different shape to what we’d prepped for, so it was going to take an adjustment.
“But in the end, it was fairly comfortable and we could have had a couple more on transition, but I’m pleased because they did stand up.
“There are a lot of guys in there who can be proud of what they’ve tried to achieve because it can be a tough game today, at home to a newly-promoted side, both down the bottom, we haven’t won yet, the atmosphere was edgy and it would have been very easy to go safe, but none of them did. They were on the front foot, full of energy and it was a good win.”
On the importance of an early goal
“When we have to suffer for a few minutes when Southampton got at us, the fact that we were 1-0 up, it kept the crowd calmer. If it’s 0-0 at that moment and we have to suffer against Southampton, the place would start to get even more edgy, so the first goal was so important for us.
“I’m disappointed that we didn’t manage to hurt them a bit more on transition, but we lacked a bit of quality today, in those moments, but a clean sheet was so big for us.”
On a first win of the season
“We’ve also played a lot better than we have today and been on the wrong end, so it was a gritty performance. We had to show a lot of fight and determination.
“We had to move a few things around at half time and we managed to get a bit more pressure on in the second half, we got a lot of regains, but Southampton are an awkward side to play against, especially when you're down the bottom and you're under a bit of pressure in front of your home fans – they dominate the ball and we had to be patient.
“But second half, I thought we were excellent, stepped onto them, managed to get good pressure and looked a real threat.”
On getting out of the gates quickly
“We spoke a lot about it this week, about everyone being responsible for it and making sure. We started prep for this game as early as Tuesday, we knew exactly how we were going to go about it.
“We did a lot of work this week on out possession stuff, and then – as sometimes happens –Southampton turn up in a different shape, and it took us a while to get to grips with it. But the half-time came at a real good moment for us and we were able to change a few bits.
“It was also a big clean sheet, so I’m pleased for Jose as well. He's had to fight hard since Sam's come in, and he’s managed to reclaim the jersey and it was a big clean sheet for us. Then Matheus Cunha, with two fantastic moments of quality for us.”
A step in the right direction 💪
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 9, 2024
Thank you for your wonderful support at Molineux today. pic.twitter.com/LIQgceyyb5
On Matheus Cunha’s influence
“He is huge to us, and all the work we do is around being connected to the team, because he has such ability, but he is one of those players that drifts and he takes up positions and trying to find roles for him to do without the ball can be tough.
“We work very hard with him on how important it is to be a trusted team member when we don't have the ball. We all know the quality that he has and the difference he can make in games for us is huge.
“He’s worked very hard at it since Brentford away, when I spoke to him fairly harshly, after the Brentford game, about where I thought he was team-wise, his performances without the ball and his work for the team has been exceptional since then, and then his quality gets to show.
“It’s a big win for us and Mathues Cunha has a big part to play in it, but the other lads gave absolutely everything, especially in that first-half, when it was a little bit tough and our shape against theirs didn't really fit too well, they had to dig deep, and they had to find a way, so it was a big win.”
On going three unbeaten
“Brentford was a big marker for us because we played an awful lot of the top sides in the league, and maybe we felt we were playing ok and weren't getting results. But then we went to Brentford and we were miles below our level.
“From that moment, we've managed to get a fantastic reaction. We should have got something against Manchester City here, and then we've gone three unbeaten since that, so a fantastic reaction from the group, from what was a tough afternoon at Brentford, and we need to keep building.
“As you saw today, Southampton – a team down the bottom with us – still make it very tough, so it's going to be a big fight for us, but we know that we can turn this around. I've seen enough out the players and the commitment and the drive, so I’m really pleased that they get to go away and they get to have a little two week break now.
“Some of them will be on internationals, some of them will be with us, but they just get have a little bit of a chill out after a tough spell and enjoy the first win.”
