Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil claims his team must put frustration with referees to one side before pointing out they have had more VAR decisions against them than any other Premier League club
Gary O’Neil says Wolves have to forget their gripes over VAR – and fight for their lives at the Amex.
The bottom-placed club head to the south coast still in search of their first victory this season after playing seven of last season’s top eight in a difficult opening run of fixtures.
And with feelings still running high over the injury-time goal that floored them against Manchester City last week, Wolves know they need to make their own luck – despite O’Neil suggesting they have been hard done by.
Referencing VAR decisions, O’Neil said: “I was sent a league table this week showing we’re minus 20 for VAR interventions.
“What that means is that every time VAR gets involved in the last five years, you get a point for it going for you. You lose a point if it goes against you – and we’re minus 20. The nearest team to us is West Ham on minus six. So it’s understandable why Wolves and the fan base aren’t big fans of VAR because every time it gets involved, it feels like many decisions go against us, either rightly or not.
“There’s a big difference between us and all the other teams in the league. Funnily enough, the team we play next is at the top of that with plus nine – there’s a 29-point difference between VAR interventions for them and us.
“People outside of here probably just think I’m moaning about VAR again. But when I saw those numbers, I found them quite interesting. But regardless of all that, the team, myself, the club, and the fan base just stand up and fight every game.
“We are ready to fight no matter what. As you could see with the supporters against Manchester City, when we had to dig in and fight for basically all of the game, they were right there with us.
“That will continue to be the case. The club, the team, myself, the staff above me, and the staff below me, we will all just keep fighting and pushing. This weekend is a great chance for us to show that again.”
O’Neil has just one selection issue. Keeper Sam Johnstone is fit again after missing out last week with a niggle. He had replaced Jose Sa in the early games of the season. Despite the Portuguese playing well against Pep Guardiola’s side last week, it is anticipated that Wolves’ boss will plump for the £10m arrival from Crystal Palace.
He said: “Sam has come through training, so we’ll make a decision tomorrow on the goalkeeper situation. I’m really clear on who the best goalkeeper to start for us tomorrow is.”
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