Gary O’Neil accepts criticism from Wolves fans after heavy defeat at Everton

Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil insists he is happy to look fans in the face and take the criticism which comes his way after his team were jeered off after losing 4-0 to Everton at Goodison Park.

It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence.

When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches.

“Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table.

“I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said.

“We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together.

“Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me.

“I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them.

“Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread).

“I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.”

Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead.

Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted.

He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet.

“Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.”

The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players.

“I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added.

“The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going.

“It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step.

“It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”