Gary O’Neil has fronted up and spoken out after Wolves crashed to a devastating 2-1 defeat to Ipswich on Saturday – and vowed to ‘deal’ with Rayan Ait-Nouri.
The hosts went into the game hoping to pick up all three points and ease some of the pressure on their manager’s shoulders.
But while Matheus Cunha struck for Wolves, an Matt Doherty own goal and late strike from Jack Taylor gave Kieran McKenna’s side a crucial win.
After the clash, tempers boiled over.
Gary O’Neil has fronted up and spoken out after Wolves crashed to a devastating 2-1 defeat to Ipswich on Saturday
PA
There were unpleasant scenes within Molineux as Ait-Nouri clashed with Ipswich staff, while fans booed and vented their fury at the board following another nightmare defeat.
And O’Neil has now admitted that, while he hasn’t seen the incident, he will deal with the full-back after he was sent off for his antics.
“I haven’t seen it. I have just been told he received a second yellow,” he told the BBC.
“I spoke to him during the game. We are under a lot of pressure.
“We are trying to push the group beyond our level and you can’t get yourself in trouble.
“We are stretched as it is. We need Rayan and now we don’t have him. I will deal with that internally.
“I understand the players being emotional but we have to keep control better. For two players not to be in the right place for a corner, at home to Ipswich, in the last seconds, shows they are not able to think clearly enough in those moments.”
O’Neil also admitted the defeat was a ‘big blow’, on a day when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in attendance to spark rumours about a potential managerial change.
“It is a big blow for the group,” he confessed.
“Especially with how we fought to get back into the game and be the better side for the second half, we were at maximum and felt like we would go on and win the game.
“To suffer that goal so late, the nature of the goal is crazy, which we have said already.
“I can shield them from so much but long balls over the top and then players are taking it upon themselves to change positions from a corner, for some reason.
Wolves players were visibly frustrated following their defeat to Ipswich on Saturday
“The subs made a big impact and we fought back and we have nothing to show for it.”
On Ipswich’s winner, he continued: “I was told that it might have been offside. We have had a couple.
“There are far more pressing matters in my mind than VAR and whether the guy was in the way.
“Too many mistakes from us again. These cannot happen at these levels.
Gary O’Neil is under huge pressure in the wake of Wolves’ defeat to Ipswich on Saturday
PA
“We have no chance if we can’t deal with Liam Delap running through.
“We have no chance if we can’t stand in the right place and head the ball.
“It is a more than disappointing way to lose. We take nothing from it.”
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