Gary O’Neil felt the awarding of Manchester Metropolis’s stoppage-time profitable aim was “harsh”, as Wolves had been denied a share of the spoils at Molineux.
The hosts had pissed off the reigning Premier League champions for lengthy intervals, and appeared like they’d declare solely a morale-boosting second level of the season.
Nevertheless, there was to be a dramatic twist within the fifth minute of stoppage time, with John Stones powering dwelling a header from Phil Foden’s nook to grab all three factors.
The aim was subjected to a VAR evaluate after the referee’s assistant initially raised his flag, with Bernardo Silva in an offside place and in shut proximity to Jose Sa.
Nevertheless, Chris Kavanagh subsequently dominated Silva was not interfering with the Wolves goalkeeper, and O’Neil questioned the inconsistency of such selections.
“I’m attempting to stay calm,” he stated. “I’ve been concerned in just a few of these and never had many go in our favour, so I used to be anticipating that consequence.
“There’s some gray space that may go both manner and, as soon as it was like that, I wasn’t assured it might go our manner.
“It was much like a aim [Wolves had disallowed] towards West Ham final season. We despatched a picture to referees exhibiting proof that the West Ham keeper might see the ball, however the cause we got was the participant was in shut proximity.
“The identical argument might be stated right here, however we simply have to just accept it. I’d slightly not focus on it as a result of it should nonetheless sound like I’m making excuses. No matter determination they make, I respect. We don’t need to cross that line, nevertheless it did really feel like a harsh one.”
Final minute heartbreak at Molineux.
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— Wolves (@Wolves) October 20, 2024
Wolves changed Southampton on the backside of the Premier League desk, and have now didn’t win any of their opening eight league video games in a season for the primary time in 41 years.
However O’Neil believes his squad can construct on the positives they demonstrated towards Metropolis.
“I’m pleased with the gamers,” he added. “[It was] an unbelievable effort and we gave ourselves an excellent probability. I’m gutted for the gamers that we needed to go away with nothing.
“The efficiency was wonderful. I assumed the lads gave completely all the pieces. We saved discovering the solutions, and we conceded a controversial aim late on. The issues that would go towards us at this time positively did, however we’ve to take positives.
“It’s robust defending for thus lengthy, it’s so arduous to get out. They had been working their socks off, they gave all the pieces, they confirmed what they’re, which is all I requested. We want to verify it seems to be like that extra typically.
“It has been such a merciless run of fixtures. We have to hold standing up. We’re the place we’re, and we’d like to verify we hold producing the perfect of ourselves.”