Gary O’Neil was left disheartened by three crucial moments that went against his team in their loss to West Ham United at Molineux, including a VAR decision that he labeled as ‘appalling’.
Despite dominating the first half, O’Neil acknowledged that his team’s own mistakes led to the Hammers equalizing from a penalty and scoring directly from a corner. The head coach was particularly frustrated by a refereeing decision that ruled Tawanda Chirewa was interfering with the goalkeeper, even though replays showed otherwise.
Regarding the VAR decision, O’Neil said, “It was a scandalous decision. Terrible. Horrendous. I don’t understand it. It was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever witnessed. The whole world thinks it’s a terrible decision, yet a highly qualified referee manages to get it wrong.”
Despite the disappointing loss, O’Neil praised his team’s first-half performance, highlighting their dominance despite missing key players. He noted that the second half was more challenging, as West Ham changed their tactics and Wolves struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities.
Looking ahead, O’Neil emphasized the need to refocus and continue giving their all in the upcoming matches. Despite the setback, he commended his team for their efforts and resilience. Additionally, he confirmed that Rayan Ait-Nouri was substituted due to a calf injury and hoped he would recover in time for the next game.
