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Gary O’Neil has vowed to take ‘whatever criticism Wolves fans throw’ at him after calls for him to be given the sack rang around Molineux during the team’s 4-0 defeat to Everton.
It was a night to forget for the hosts as the struggling Toffees thrashed O’Neil’s players – aided by two Craig Dawson own goals.
The result leaves Wolves firmly wedged in the relegation places, just four points off bottom-placed Southampton.
The Wolverhampton side have won just three matches in all competitions since the start of the 2024-25 campaign, placing a major question mark over O’Neil’s continuing role in the dug-out.
But the manager was bombastic about his desire to stay in place at Molineux and stop the rot himself.
‘Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no one working harder than me, and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,’ O’Neil said after the final whistle.
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil insists that he accepts full responsibility for his side’s woeful form
The hosts were thumped 4-0 at Molineux by fellow strugglers Everton on a night to forget
‘I appreciate every one of the Wolves fanbase. They have given me unbelievable support. Now it’s tough, I am happy to look them in the face and take whatever criticism they throw at me.
‘I accept full responsibility. I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most of the group. I understand the drive for change.
‘You never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is, negative noise is always the loudest, but I understand.’
Chants are believed to have started after the third goal, with away fans joining in with calls of, ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ and ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’.
But despite O’Neil’s confidence in his ability to transform Wolves’ fortunes, his remarks at full-time cut a different tone than comments made at the start of last month, when the manager said he had ‘no concerns’ about his position despite sitting bottom of the table.
‘Zero concern for my position,’ O’Neil insisted. ‘I’m fine. It’s my job. The place is not going to be rosy and smiley. I fully expected this to be a tough atmosphere, especially when we went behind.
Two own goals from Craig Dawson (centre, kicking) compounded the home side’s misery
‘The fans can voice their opinions, of course. It’s my job to make the right decisions. The three substitutes made a big difference and we were excellent after they came on.
‘We have not been in the market to sign Premier League-quality players. We are trying to work with players to get them ready and they are learning to perform on the toughest stage in the world. We have to keep fighting.’
O’Neil took over at Molineux in August 2023 after the shock departure of new-West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui.
Last season saw the former Bournemouth head coach guide the club to a 14th-place finish.
