It doesn’t get any easier for Wolves, with Manchester City the opponents this weekend in the Premier League.
Gary O’Neil has been spending the international break trying to figure out how to get his side to improve, after taking just one point in the Premier League so far.
It has been an alarming start for Wolves.
It’s 21 goals conceded in just seven games, and the defence really has been all at sea.
O’Neil could now change the formation for the visit of City to Molineux, just like he did last season which proved very successful.
That 2-1 win was the catalyst for the team in 2023/24, and it would be very surprising if the Wolves manager did not turn to it once again.
To take points off City, it’s important that everyone plays well in the day. However, it will be absolutely crucial for Craig Dawson in particular to perform.
Craig Dawson kept Erling Haaland quiet last season in ‘faultless’ display
Many Wolves fans are dreading this game.
City are the Premier League champions and are capable of ripping any team in the division apart.
They have arguably the best striker in the world in Erling Haaland, who already has 11 goals to his name for City this season.
If Wolves are to get anything from this game, he’ll need keeping quiet.
That is something Craig Dawson managed last season in this same fixture, with Haaland totally nullified by the veteran.
Dawson, who cost just over £3 million, had one of his best games ever for Wolves that day against such a fearsome opponent. The 34-year-old gave him nothing.
At one point in the game, Haaland even showed Dawson respect by shaking his hand after the defender blocked a shot.
Alan Shearer also hailed Dawson for how he handled Haaland, selecting him in his Team of the Week for that round of fixtures. The Premier League legend said at the time: “Faultless display. Not many defenders have managed to keep Haaland quiet, but he did with a brilliant performance.”
Wolves can shock Man City (again)
Manchester City are the overwhelming favourites to win this game and rightly so.
But this could play into Wolves’ hands. No one is really expecting anything from Wolves against such a top side.
Gary O’Neil has been backed by the Wolves board for now and will get a bit more time to turn things around. But it’s likely that this game won’t really have a bearing on his future.
| Wolves and Manchester City Head-to-Head |
| Wolves wins – 50 |
| Draws – 25 |
| Man City wins – 55 |
So the lack of expectations might just work in Wolves’ favour.
They produced one of the shocks of the season in this very fixture last term. Once again, City are coming into this game having not yet lost, and Wolves will fancy handing them their defeat and kickstarting their season.
It will be so important for Wanderers to start well and just try to still be in the game in the second-half. And of course, O’Neil needs Dawson to have another top performance against Haaland. Potentially, he will be Wolves’ most important player on Sunday.