Pundit has noticed something about Wolves under O’Neil compared to Lopetegui

Pundit has noticed something about Wolves under O’Neil compared to Lopetegui

Dave Edwards has suggested Wolves look much more likely to come back from losing positions in games under Gary O’Neil than under Julen Lopetegui.

Wanderers drew 2-2 with Newcastle United on Saturday which, on paper, is a decent result. However, there is a sense of frustration for a lot of fans, following the award of a controversial penalty to Newcastle.

But Wolves deserve great credit for coming from behind not once, but twice.

Callum Wilson opened the scoring at Molineux, taking advantage of some poor goalkeeping by Jose Sa. Sa flapped at a cross, and Wilson converted athletically after a good initial block by Toti Gomes.

Mario Lemina equalised for Wolves with a great header from a Pedro Neto corner. But then Wolves were stung by the penalty decision, with Wilson putting Newcastle 2-1 up.

But Wanderers had the character to come back, with Hwang Hee-chan scoring his sixth goal of the season.

There is a feeling within the fanbase now that this Wolves side is much more competitive. And that is something Edwards has also now suggested…

Dave Edwards makes claim about Wolves under Gary O’Neil

There are very few Wolves fans thinking about former manager Julen Lopetegui at this point. The Spaniard did some great work during his short spell at Molineux, but a lot of people are now fully on board with what O’Neil is doing.

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He’s enjoyed a solid start all things considered, and is perhaps unlucky not to be sitting a few places higher in the table.

Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images

Wolves look like a team ready to fight again and Edwards believes there’s now greater potential for Wolves to come from behind in games rather than just wilt.

He said: “But they bounced back and they looked like they were the team that was going to go on and win the game, they did not have that character about them last season.

“They were winning games 1-0 under Julen Lopetegui but they were not able to come back into games once they went behind.

“You have to give the manager so much credit for building that team spirit and that togetherness.

“I am delighted for him, the relationship he is building with the fans and the points this Wolves side are putting on the board.”

Wolves are a competitive outfit again

One of the best things O’Neil has done since becoming Wolves manager is instilling that competitiveness again.

Lopetegui did give the dressing room a lift when he came in last season. But you did get the feeling that once Wolves went behind in games under him, then that was it. There was very little chance of getting points.

There is a very different feeling now. It doesn’t feel as ominous when Wolves concede a goal and are in a losing position.

In the last two games, Wolves have come from behind to take points. This was a very rare occurrence before O’Neil came in.