Former Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has highlighted one critical reason why Gary O’Neil’s side are struggling to defend set pieces.
Wolves are in crisis. The club are bottom of the Premier League and are yet to win a game in the division so far this campaign.
Going into the Southampton game, there is every chance that Gary O’Neil could be sacked if the Old Gold does not produce a victory. This is due to a multitude of reasons, with the squad facing multiple issues on the pitch.
Defending is arguably the Molineux side’s biggest issue. After 10 games, the club have conceded 27 goals, the most in the division.
Wolves were once on track to concede the most goals in a Premier League season but have since dipped under this average.
However, one of the biggest contributors to this dismal record is their set-piece record as Ikeme highlights one reason it has collapsed.
Wolves ‘don’t have trust and communication’ when defending set pieces
Wolves have been less than impressive when it comes to defending set-pieces. So far this campaign, the club have conceded nine times from dead-ball situations, the most in the division.
As a result, Wolves’ set-piece coach was sacked during the last international break after another goal was conceded from a corner against Brentford.
However, this has not immediately fixed the issue. In the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace last weekend, both of the Eagles’ goals came from set plays as Wolves struggled to contain the issue.
The first was particularly poor and drew criticism towards goalkeeper Jose Sa. Yet, Ikeme refused to blame the ‘keeper and instead believes that Wolves lack ‘trust and communication’ when defending dead balls.
He told BBC WM: “When you watch the slow motion you can see that Jose Sa called for the ball quite clearly. I’ve been in that position where they have called for the ball and they have headed it and it is infuriating because everyone is going to start blaming the goalkeeper then saying, ‘you look like you are in no man’s land’; saying ‘you are in-between decisions’ when he has clearly shouted for the ball’. It is his own player and he isn’t going to go take him out.
“It is another set piece for Wolves. It is difficult for us at the minute because there isn’t that trust and communication at the minute when someone is calling for the ball.
“It is a difficult one but I won’t blame Jose [Sa] for that; I know he is getting a bit of stick for it but he quite clearly called for the ball and it should have been left.”
Wolves’ decision not to sign a centre-back only looks more baffling
While Max Kilman was not sensational in the Wolves backline, he was a presence, especially on set pieces.
Yet, when he left for West Ham, Wolves did not delve into the market to bring in a replacement and now the club are getting what they deserve for their arrogance.
How Matt Hobbs thought Wolves didn’t need a centre-back in the summer is baffling, especially given that the defence was less than impressive before the last campaign ended.
In January, this must become a priority or the Old Gold will certainly be relegated by the season’s end.