Wolverhampton Wanderers’ defeat to Manchester City on Sunday was a bitter pill for manager Gary O’Neil, who expressed frustration over the controversial injury-time goal that left his team at the bottom of the Premier League. The late drama unfolded as Wolves were just moments away from securing a crucial point with the score level at 1-1. However, in the dying seconds of the match, John Stones headed home from a corner in the 95th minute, giving City a 2-1 victory and condemning Wolves to their seventh defeat in eight league games this season.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) thoroughly reviewed the goal for a potential offside involving Bernardo Silva, who was close to Wolves’ goalkeeper, Jose Sa. VAR concluded that Silva did not obstruct Sa’s line of sight, and the goal stood, much to O’Neil’s disappointment.
Trying to keep his composure after the match, O’Neil expressed his frustration. “I’m trying to stay level-headed, but it’s difficult after that call,” he admitted. “I’ve been in situations like this before where decisions haven’t gone our way, so I had a feeling this one wouldn’t either. There’s always some level of ambiguity in these rulings, and once it became a gray area, I wasn’t confident we’d get the decision.”
O’Neil couldn’t help but draw parallels to his team’s similar situation late last season. He recounted a disallowed injury-time goal in Wolves’ 2-1 defeat to West Ham, where Wolves were penalized for a player near the opposing goalkeeper. “We provided clear evidence that the West Ham keeper had a clear view of the ball, but the decision went against us because of the proximity of our player. It feels like a similar case here, but we just have to accept it,” O’Neil remarked, clearly frustrated but cautious in his comments.
Despite his visible frustration, O’Neil avoided dwelling on the controversy too long, noting, “I don’t want to make it seem like I’m making excuses. Whatever decision is made, I respect it. We just don’t want to overstep, but it did feel like a harsh call.”
Ultimately, O’Neil turned his attention to his team’s performance, expressing pride in his players’ effort against the reigning champions. “I’m immensely proud of the boys. The commitment they showed was incredible, and we gave ourselves a real chance. I’m heartbroken for the players because they gave everything and deserved more from this match.”
The defeat, however, leaves Wolves languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table with just one point from their first eight games. The team’s spirits will need lifting as they face an uphill battle to climb out of the relegation zone.
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