Following the 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O’Neil didn’t hold back in criticizing three of his players, suggesting they had let the team down. With anything but a victory seen as inexcusable and a defeat unthinkable, Wolves were left reeling after giving up crucial points to their relegation rivals, once again conceding from a set piece.
This season, Wanderers have now conceded a total of 16 goals from set plays in the Premier League, a glaring weakness that has cost them dearly. The lack of proper positioning and a strong aerial presence were evident in Ipswich’s late winning goal, with Jack Taylor given far too much time and space to convert a header.
O’Neil expressed frustration in the post-match press conference, revealing that two of his players had deviated from their roles during the crucial corner kick that led to the decisive goal. He firmly believes that sticking to the original instructions would have prevented the goal.
In addition to the set piece blunder, Wolves also conceded a goal due to a series of unfortunate events that culminated in Matt Doherty inadvertently scoring an own goal. O’Neil was particularly disappointed with the defensive lapse that allowed Liam Delap to shrug off Nelson Semedo far too easily and score.
The manager was visibly upset with Semedo’s failure to intervene, as it ultimately gave Ipswich the lead and left Wolves facing an uphill battle they couldn’t overcome. The defeat left Wanderers facing a daunting task, and the players will need to improve significantly to avoid further disappointment.
