Rob Edwards bemoaned the “gifts” his side gave Manchester United, leading to another Molineux defeat on Monday evening.
Wolves made errors for all United’s first three goals, meaning Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s strike counted for nothing at Molineux, and the club’s winless start to the season continued.
The head coach had taken heart from his side’s end to the first half, where they pulled themselves level, but knows any team in the top flight will punish the mistakes Wolves produced after the break, leading to another tough night at Molineux.
On another Molineux defeat
“Difficult, difficult night. The energy that we created for the last 15 minutes before half-time was really good, and we wanted to try and keep that momentum. Obviously, clearly, we didn't. We got ourselves back in the game in difficult circumstances and we gifted them a goal. We were able to come on to, actually, a good performance for that short period of time, drag ourselves back into the game, and the boys could feed it when I looked in their eyes and spoke to them at half-time.
“The second half we lost a few duels, a couple of turnovers. Ultimately, the big moments were the goals in the game and the first three goals, for me, were gifts. We had the ball, turnovers and transitions, and got punished.”
On conceding four goals
“The first one was a clear error. The second one, again, was when JJ got injured, so it was a really good moment for us on the attack, and then we lose it in that fast transition, we got things wrong, we didn't track the run of Diallo. We didn't get our organisation right in that fast transition, that moment, for the second goal.
“The third one, again, we won it and lost it about five times. I think Agba thought the ref had blown the whistle, because he stopped when we won the ball back at one point, when there was a bit of a scramble. We looked like we got ourselves organised again, and it's far too easy for the cross and Mount to run between the space in that moment. Really easy, poor goals and avoidable goals.”
On a chaotic performance
“We wanted to be more aggressive. We wanted to show that side of ourselves. With United’s shape, it felt like it could be a little bit more of a man for man game where we could try and be more aggressive. The last 15 minutes is how I wanted the game to look, I felt that we pressed them well, they gave us back, and we were able to take more of the ball, and we created some chances.
“Then it was too open on a turnover for a couple of moments, but that was nothing really to do with being more open, that was just poor play. Then I feel like there was a little bit of a hesitancy in the lads, and United could smell blood, and then it would look more disorganised than it probably should have done. But I think that was because of the state of the game.”
On Strand Larsen’s criticism
“He’ll be disappointed. Obviously, he's a proud man, and he's a very good player, but like a number of the boys, or every football player, you can have some difficult moments, and you can lack confidence at times. He's trying really hard, and the things that he says and things that he does around the training ground, around the dressing room, are really good. He cares. So, it will hurt him, and I'd love the fans to support the players. I would love that, but I understand their frustration.
“I just said, ‘Look, stay positive and don't react now’, because it will hurt him. He's proud. He's one of the lads that was really speaking before the game, in the huddle in the changing room, and he's really passionate. He spoke really well. He's trying, and I thought against Aston Villa that's what he was brilliant, he really was. It was a difficult night tonight. It's difficult now but keep your head down.”
On trying to lift things
“We've got to try and improve. We've got to try and find that belief. I understand it's really difficult moment, at this present time, when emotions are high. I come out and try to be bullish, but at the same time I'm hurting as well, because, it's a difficult night, and stood there at 3-1 down with a decent amount of the game to go, you’re thinking to show something to get back in the game here, but we don’t want to get opened up even more, because United’s strength is obviously that counter attack and the speed they can go and hurt you, which they showed a few times.”
