Wolves’ Struggles Deepen After Heavy Defeat at Brentford

Just a week ago, Wolves’ manager Gary O’Neil downplayed concerns over his team’s precarious position at the bottom of the Premier League following a narrow home defeat to Liverpool. However, after a dismal performance against Brentford on Saturday, he may need to reassess the situation.

“It was the worst game I’ve been involved in as a coach,” O’Neil admitted to BBC Match of the Day. Despite scoring two first-half goals, Wolves’ poor defending allowed Brentford to take a commanding 4-2 lead by halftime, with Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard, and Ethan Pinnock adding to Nathan Collins’ early header.

Though Rayan Ait-Nouri’s late goal offered some consolation, it was scant reward for a team that struggled to find its footing throughout the match. O’Neil reflected on the performance, saying, “It’s the furthest I’ve seen the group from what we wanted to look like. We were wide open, and we made crazy decisions with and without the ball. It was an unbelievably disappointing afternoon for us.”

Despite responding to Brentford’s initial goals with strikes from Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen, Wolves’ defensive lapses gifted the Bees their two-goal advantage. Mario Lemina’s poor clearance led to Norgaard’s goal, while Pinnock was left unmarked to score from a corner just before the break.

“This is the first evidence that we need a rethink,” O’Neil stated. “The early goal rocked us, but whatever caused the defeat is not acceptable.”

The loss leaves Wolves at the bottom of the Premier League table with just one point from their first seven matches. Upcoming fixtures against Manchester City and Brighton may not offer much respite after the international break.

Wolves are enduring their worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign, equalling the joint-worst opening to a top-flight season since 1964-65. Historically, teams that have collected only one point or fewer from their first seven matches face an uphill battle for survival, with only four teams—Southampton in 1999, Newcastle in 2000, Sunderland in 2014, and Crystal Palace in 2018—managing to avoid relegation under similar circumstances.

With 21 goals conceded so far, Wolves are struggling defensively, having allowed more goals than Sheffield United, who were battered 8-0 by Newcastle in their sixth match last season. O’Neil’s side has not recorded a clean sheet in their last 19 Premier League games, matching only Southampton for the longest such streak.

Reflecting on the defensive frailties, O’Neil said, “There was no structure—a complete loss of control of what the team is meant to do. We were just far too open, giving ourselves no opportunity because of our defensive shape and structure.”

The frustration among Wolves supporters was palpable, as chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” echoed towards O’Neil during the match. Fans also voiced concerns over the club’s ownership, especially after the summer departures of key players Pedro Neto and Max Kilman, and the failure to adequately replace them.

Despite the team’s struggles, O’Neil remains steadfast in his belief that he can steer the club to safety. “Today, I gave my best to help my football club have a successful day, and it was miles below the standard we expect. Tomorrow, I will get up and do the same. The fans deserve better than what we managed to produce today.”