Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O’Neil emphasized the significance of his team’s 1-0 triumph over Burnley on Tuesday evening. Despite receiving acclaim earlier in the season, consecutive losses to Fulham and Arsenal had put Wolves in a challenging position. The pivotal moment came just before halftime, with Hwang Hee-chan’s goal securing three crucial points for Wolves against the Clarets.
The outcome was crucial, as a Burnley victory would have brought them within five points of Wolves, who are not considered relegation candidates despite recent setbacks. Instead, Burnley remains two points away from safety, while Wolves have ascended to 12th place in the standings, comfortably positioned 11 points above the relegation zone.
In a post-game interview with Match of the Day, O’Neil commended his team, highlighting that they were facing a team outside of last season’s top eight at home for the first time in the 2023-24 season. O’Neil acknowledged the anticipated challenge posed by Burnley’s defensive organization and expressed satisfaction with the performance.
Reflecting on the game, O’Neil stated, “It went pretty much how I expected it to go. I hoped we could create more and be more fluid, but Burnley is organized defensively, and it is not easy to play through it.” He praised the team’s control of the game while acknowledging the need to improve in certain aspects.
Despite feeling caught between having control of the game and not posing a significant threat, O’Neil highlighted the importance of the win, emphasizing the team’s cohesion and clean sheet. He reassured the players, stating, “The group stuck together, kept a clean sheet, and it never looked in doubt really once we went in front.”
Wolves are now on a five-match unbeaten streak at Molineux and are set to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
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