“We won’t give up and we’ll keep pushing,” he added on Sky Sports.
“We won’t give up and we’ll keep pushing,” he added on Sky Sports.
Monday’s 2-1 defeat at London Stadium was Wolves’ third in a row and leaves them second bottom of the Premier League, four points from safety.
This was a game that started with both managers fighting to hold on to their jobs and while the situation has eased somewhat for Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui, O’Neil’s future remains uncertain.
The Wolves manager pointed to “four big decisions” going against his side on Monday and a transfer strategy that has left them relying on youth – but insisted everyone was committed to helping the club stay in the Premier League.
“I am not concerned,” O’Neil told BBC Sport when he was asked about his position.
“I am really proud of the group and everything they have given me. I can only ask them to give their best.”
The Wolves boss is confident that he still has the support of his players, despite the club’s position.
A significant reason for Wolves finding themselves where they are is their poor defensive record.
They have conceded 38 goals in the Premier League – the most for any team in the top flight this season
Set-pieces, in particular, are proving their undoing. Excluding penalties, they have conceded a league-high 15 goals from set-piece situations this season following Tomas Soucek’s back-post header on Monday.
Only twice before have they conceded more of such goals in the Premier League – in 2003-04 (20) and 2011-12 (18). Both those campaigns ended in relegation.
Wolves parted company with set-piece coach Jack Wilson in October and it will be concerning for the club’s hierarchy that it remains a big issue for them.
“Wolves have to defend the set-piece better,” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports.
“They’ve conceded 15 goals from set-pieces this season. Seven more than any other team. They have a huge problem here.”
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