What Wolves are now thinking about Gary O’Neil’s future ahead of Aston Villa clash

Wolves start to the season went from bad to worse on Wednesday night after being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton.

It’s been a disastrous beginning to the campaign for Wolves, who have collected just one point from their opening four Premier League games.

Last weekend, the Wanderers threw away a one-goal lead against Newcastle as the Magpies rallied through Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes to secure a 2-1 victory.

Since the end of last season, Gary O’Neil’s men have won just one of their last 14 matches and haven’t kept a clean sheet in 16, last shutting out the opposition in a 1-0 win over Sheffield United.

It’s the sort of form that would lose most managers their jobs, with insight now being provided into how Wolves are thinking about O’Neil’s future.

• READ MORE: Wolves fans slam star who had ‘no confidence’ in Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton 

Gary O’Neil’s job at Wolves is safe

According to GIVEMESPORT’s Ben Jacobs, O’Neil is ‘under no pressure’ in terms of losing his job at Molineux despite their atrocious start to the season.

The Englishman is seen as a long-term appointment in Wolverhampton, as highlighted when O’Neil recently signed a new contract that ties him down till 2028.

It is stated that Wolves don’t consider the 14-game-long run of form to be poor and are willing to back the talented coach through a grey cloud.

When the Old Gold were handed their fixture list for the 2024/25 campaign, they knew their start was going to be extremely difficult.

Wolves have already tasted defeat against Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle; games O’Neil claims his side was ‘second best’ in.

It doesn’t get easier in the coming weeks, either, as they travel to Aston Villa on Saturday before hosting Liverpool and Manchester City in two of their next three.

For that reason, it’s understandable why Jeff Shi is being patient with the Englishman, although this form must turn around very soon.

• READ MORE: Wolves now offered ‘wonderful’ Champions League winner on a free, but Julen Lopetegui also wants him

November and December will be pivotal for Gary O’Neil

Wolves supporters won’t expect their side to pick up many points in their next four, with a trip to Brentford arguably their best chance of three points.

Depending on how results go in other games, the Wanderers could be left with ground to make up once they reach the 10-game mark against Brighton in October.

It means that their fixture schedule following that difficult run will be all-important in dragging themselves away from danger, as O’Neil’s men play Southampton, Fulham, Bournemouth and Everton.

Failure to win any of those games or take a sufficient number of points could be when Wolves change their chance on O’Neil’s future.

But for now, they’re happy with him as manager and fans will hope he can turn the clubs early season fortunes around very soon.