Wolves chairman Jeff Shi says everybody on the membership is “united” behind head coach Gary O’Neil as they method Saturday’s relegation six-pointer in opposition to Ipswich City.
Wolves are nineteenth within the Premier League, 4 factors adrift of security, after dropping three consecutive video games in opposition to Bournemouth, West Ham and Everton, delivery 10 objectives in these matches.
That run of outcomes, coming off the again of a four-match unbeaten streak, has triggered supporters to show in opposition to O’Neil, who was focused by chants of “you’re getting sacked within the morning” throughout and after Wolves’ current 4-0 defeat at Everton.
Studies from The Athletic have urged Wolves thought of a number of managers – together with Graham Potter, David Moyes, Sergio Conceicao and Massimiliano Allegri – as potential replacements throughout the November worldwide break.
However with none of these prepared to take cost, O’Neil stays in situ forward of Saturday’s pivotal conflict with Ipswich, who’re degree on factors with Wolves in 18th.
“I don’t must familiarise supporters with what occurred in the summertime of 2023, all of them comprehend it,” Shi wrote in a column for The Categorical & Star.
“However due to that, the future of Gary O’Neil and Wolves met at an sudden second, and I stay grateful to Gary for getting into such a demanding scenario simply days earlier than the start of a brand new season, and for his dedication to the membership day-after-day since then.
“Whereas he is aware of that enhancing our outcomes is crucial for everybody related to the soccer membership, we’re united in supporting him as all of us attempt to make that occur.”
Ipswich (H) pic.twitter.com/XJbmv1brIY
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 11, 2024
Although Shi understands fan unrest, he insists the temper contained in the membership stays optimistic.
“Whereas feelings make soccer particular, success within the sport is basically a science. I consider within the energy of positivity as a result of negativity achieves nothing,” Shi mentioned.
“Simply as atoms stay atoms, how we understand, mix, and join them defines their collective worth, and optimistic vitality grants the group of atoms life and vitality.”
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, in the meantime, is aware of the Tractor Boys may flip the Molineux crowd in opposition to Wolves in the event that they make a optimistic begin.
“You realize going away from dwelling there are at all times two edges to that sword. Particularly in opposition to a staff who should not able supporters are pleased with,” McKenna mentioned.
“We all know in the event that they get momentum up, in the event that they get the primary purpose then I’m positive they may all pull collectively as a result of they’re all combating actually, actually arduous for the consequence.
“You additionally know that for those who can impose your self on the sport and you may get the primary purpose, then you’ve gotten an opportunity of turning that momentum in opposition to them.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wolves – Jorgen Strand Larsen
Larsen has been concerned in six objectives in seven dwelling Premier League appearances for Wolves (5 objectives, one help).
He’s but to complete on the profitable facet in any dwelling sport when he has scored (one draw, three defeats) with solely Dougie Freedman (six video games) and Vitaly Janelt (5) scoring in additional dwelling video games with out tasting victory in Premier League historical past.
His six Premier League objectives general this season have come from probabilities value simply 3.57 anticipated objectives (xG). Solely seven gamers – together with Wolves team-mate Matheus Cunha (seven objectives from 3.38 xG) – have overperformed their figures by a larger margin.
Ipswich City – Conor Chaplin
Chaplin scored his first Premier League purpose in Ipswich’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth final week.
Throughout the final three seasons, Chaplin has scored 40 league objectives – 19 greater than every other Tractor Boys participant. If they’re to earn an enormous three factors within the battle for security, they might must lean upon one in all their most dependable stars.
MATCH PREDICTION – WOLVES WIN
That is the primary Premier League assembly between Wolves and Ipswich. The Tractor Boys have received six of the final seven top-flight video games between the edges (one defeat), most just lately a 3-0 away triumph in April 1984.
Nonetheless, Wolves are unbeaten within the sides’ final seven league matches general, profitable two and drawing 5, maintaining a clear sheet in every of the final 5. They final confronted off within the 2017-18 Championship marketing campaign, with Wolves profitable each video games 1-0.
Wolves have shipped 34 objectives in 16 dwelling Premier League video games in 2024, with Leeds United in 2022 the final staff to concede extra (35). The final time Wolves conceded extra in a calendar yr was once they have been relegated in 2012 (47 in 23 video games), the one different yr of their historical past wherein they’ve averaged two or extra objectives conceded per dwelling match.
O’Neil’s facet have been notably weak from lifeless balls, conceding a league-high 15 objectives from set-piece conditions this time period – solely of their relegation campaigns of 2003-04 (20) and 2011-12 (18) have they conceded extra in a single Premier League season.
Nonetheless, the top-flight expertise of their squad – in addition to dwelling benefit – may show decisive. Ipswich have misplaced their final three league video games, their second run of three defeats in a row this season.
That they had by no means beforehand misplaced consecutive league video games underneath McKenna earlier than this marketing campaign, however they may now lose 4 in a row for the primary time since March 2020, once they have been in League One.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Wolves – 49.2%
Ipswich City – 26.4%
Draw – 24.4%
