Wolves are off the bottom of the Premier League table after securing their first win against Southampton.
Yesterday’s game at Molineux was must-win for Gary O’Neil, and the head coach managed to get to job done, although it was far from a convincing performance.
Southampton dominated possession, but ultimately they lacked threat and it was actually a fairly quiet afternoon for Jose Sa.
Wolves were fairly poor in the first-half, despite going in at half-time 1-0 up thanks to Pablo Sarabia. But it was a better showing in the second, with Wolves more organised.
Matheus Cunha was the headline-maker with his assist and goal, and the Brazilian continues to show himself as Wolves’ best player.
Cunha’s contributions were significant, and fans lauded the former Atletico Madrid man. Dave Edwards said Cunha gave one of the best performances in a Wolves shirt he’s ever seen.
But O’Neil made some interesting remark after the game.
Gary O’Neil says Matheus Cunha must improve off the ball
After the 2-0 win, O’Neil insisted Cunha can still be better off the ball.
He said: “He’s maverick-like. He’s unbelievably tough to get in and out of possession structurally.
“I don’t do much work with Matheus on… his quality. I just try and get him in the right places.
“He still got wrong for loads of the game. But he shows the quality that he brings. He understands the importance of it now.
“Working very, very hard with him on it. He’s a good guy and he always wants to improve. But I have said we may lack quality in moments, and we did today apart from Matheus’ two real moments of quality.
“A big well done from me to Matheus, but I do still need him to be better without (the ball).”
Wolves fans question O’Neil over Cunha comments
Some fans have not taken the suggestions from O’Neil about Cunha well.
It is perhaps not so much what he said. But rather, the fact O’Neil chose to make those comments publicly, after Wolves had just got their first win and Cunha was central to taking the three points.
Some also found the suggestions to be rich given O’Neil may not be in a job now without Cunha’s efforts in recent weeks.
O’Neil didn’t need to make Cunha suggestion publicly
O’Neil’s verdict on Cunha was very interesting.
The Wolves manager was full of praise for his number 10, but his admission that he would like Cunha to be better off the ball has irked quite a few people.
There is an argument to say that O’Neil is actually right. Cunha’s work on the ball is far better than his work out of possession.
However, it just may not have been entirely necessary for O’Neil to make his suggestion publicly, when Cunha has just made two huge contributions to help Wolves to their first Premier League win in months.
Cunha also scored the last-gasp equaliser against Brighton and potentially, without him, O’Neil may have lost his job.
Perhaps this was something he just did not need to say in public, and should have been kept between the pair. Hopefully, Cunha won’t take it in the wrong way.