‘O’Neil is not in danger yet’

Boss Gary O’Neil remains safe in his job at Wolves, despite their poor start leaving them bottom of the Premier League.

Saturday’s 5-3 defeat at Brentford saw some fans turn and aim the first direct criticism of the manager in his 14-month reign.

The result and performance extends the winless start and compounds what has happened before. If it was in isolation it could be put down as a one-off but because of the overall situation it is magnified further.

Of course the performance was worrying and a reaction and improvement will be expected – even if the arrival of Manchester City after the international break is next up.

O’Neil has credit in the bank but, soon, Wolves will need to win and climb away from the bottom. O’Neil is realistic and honest enough to admit that, results have to improve in order for the club to stay in the Premier League and for him to remain at Molineux.

There is only so long a difficult start can be blamed for their position, even if the team has been competitive in the majority of games.

Indeed, they have perhaps been one win away from an acceptance that it has been a tricky opening and an acknowledgement the points tally was good enough.

They are scoring goals, a tally of nine is the best in the bottom five and higher than seventh placed Newcastle, but their defence is the worst in the division.

Wolves have conceded 21 goals in seven games and that is not sustainable. The long-term injury to Yerson Mosquera compounds the failure to bring in a replacement for Max Kilman. No-one needed hindsight to know the defence needed bolstering in the summer.

Yet the bottom line is O’Neil is not in danger yet, sources have told the BBC, and there is still plenty of confidence in him and the squad at Molineux.