Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said his side’s error-strewn defeat to Bournemouth has “given them a mountain to climb” if they are to remain in the Premier League this season.
O’Neil’s side were the creators of their own downfall against the Cherries last time out, conceding three penalties as they fell to a 4-2 defeat at Molineux.
Wolves’ eighth defeat of the season leaves them in the relegation zone after 13 games this season, though they are just two points behind Wednesday’s opponents Everton.
Their struggles have been at both ends of the pitch, scoring 22 goals and conceding 32 after 13 games in the Premier League this season – the earliest in a top-flight campaign a team has scored more than 20 and conceded more than 30 goals since Watford in 1984-85.
"Incredibly disappointing and self-inflicted. Some crazy errors there, especially early in the game. It is disappointing. The lads are equally disappointed,” O’Neil said.
"We need to turn our attentions quickly to Wednesday, with a big test against Everton.
"Crazy, crazy penalties to give away. We have to write those off because you can't win games if you concede goals like that. Any error as big as those, at this level, is going to be tough to bounce back from.
"We have given ourselves a mountain to climb, which we haven't done in the last four games.”
Everton, meanwhile, were thrashed 4-0 by Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, marking the fifth time they have lost a Premier League game by a 4+ goal margin under manager Sean Dyche.
But the Toffees had started brightly at Old Trafford, albeit without offering too much in the way of a threat until the Red Devils hit the front with the aid of a deflection and a mistake by Jarrad Branthwaite.
Confident his side can bounce back from a disappointing defeat, Dyche recognises his side must return to their defensive solidity – a trait which helped them to keep four clean sheets out of six games heading into Sunday’s game – while also trying to find more potency in front of goal.
“Well, the strangest thing is we've been down this road before, unfortunately, where the pressure comes on and we have to respond, and then we do respond, and we win a game, and we change it somewhat,” Dyche said.
“It's been a hard narrative to change for a long time both with me and before me. We consistently are working hard to change it. We move forward, we drop back, we move forward, we drop back.
“And then we can't find that killer edge and then the mistakes come in and it's got away from you too quickly. So, [we need to be] eradicating the mistakes and going again and bringing that mentality that we've shown many times before.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Everton – Dwight McNeil
McNeil has both had the most shots (13) and created the most chances (13) for Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League this season, both an average of 2.2 per 90 minutes.
He’s the first player to average more than two shots and two chances created per 90 mins in a season (min. 500 minutes) since Gylfi Sigurdsson in 2018-19 (3.1 shots, 2.5 chances created).
Wolves – Matheus Cunha
Cunha has scored 15 away Premier League goals for Wolves, only the second player to do so along with Raul Jimenez (18).
The Brazilian has also scored in each of his last four away appearances, with Steven Fletcher the only other Wolves player to do so during the 2011-12 campaign (also four in a row).
MATCH PREDICTION: EVERTON WIN
Despite being favoured by Opta’s data-led simulations, Everton have lost their last three home league games against Wolves. It’s their longest losing home run against them, and as many defeats as they’d suffered in their previous 18 against Wolves at Goodison Park (W9 D6).
And in a huge game between two teams at the bottom, do not expect goals on Merseyside. Two of Everton’s last three home top-flight matches have ended goalless, as many as in their previous 54 combined. The last three games at Goodison Park have seen just two goals scored, with both Everton and their opponents converting just 2.4% of their attempts (2/82).
The Toffees have also won just 29.5% of their Premier League games played on Wednesdays (33/112), their lowest win rate on any day of the week in the competition. However, they won their last such game 2-0 against Liverpool in April.
Wolves, meanwhile, have won their last three Premier League away games against Everton – only at Southampton (a current run of four) have they won more consecutively on the road in the competition.
O’Neil’s side have also scored four goals in three of their last 16 away Premier League games, having only done so once in their first 180 away games in the competition. They are also looking to score two or more goals in four consecutive away top-flight matches for the first time since April 1980.
But they face a difficult test to keep that run going. Everton have kept a clean sheet in 44% of their Premier League games under Dyche at Goodison Park (15/34) – the only permanent Toffees manager with a higher ratio in the competition is Joe Royle (46%, 22/48).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Everton – 45.8%
Draw – 25.7%
Wolves – 28.5%
Jamaica's Cavalier FC make History with Concacaf Caribbean Cup triumph
Cavalier FC etched their name in Caribbean football history on Tuesday, becoming the first Jamaican club to claim the Concacaf Caribbean Cup since 2019 and only the third overall, following in the footsteps of Harbour View and Portmore United.
Despite a 2-1 defeat in the decisive second leg against the Dominican Republic’s Cibao FC at the Estadio Cibao FC, Cavalier secured the championship on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate tie.
The Jamaican side entered the second leg with a slim 1-0 advantage, courtesy of Shaquille Stein’s goal in the first match in Kingston. However, Cibao FC, unbeaten through the semifinals, made an explosive start to the second leg in front of their fervent home crowd.
The hosts leveled the aggregate score in the 27th minute when Juan Díaz calmly converted a penalty, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Seconds later, Cibao seized the lead on aggregate as their leading scorer, Rivaldo Correa, nodded home a pinpoint cross from Ernesto Trinidad to make it 2-0 on the night.
Cavalier, however, refused to be rattled. In the 54th minute, Dwayne Atkinson, named Player of the Tournament, responded with a crucial strike, rifling the ball into the net to make it 2-2 on aggregate.
With that goal, Cavalier regained control of the series via the away goals rule, but from there, the contest became a test of their defensive mettle.
Cibao mounted relentless pressure, with José Barreto attempting a speculative long-range effort in the 70th minute, only for Cavalier’s goalkeeper Vino Barclett—later awarded Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament—to acrobatically tip the ball over the crossbar.
Orlando Russell came close to sealing the series for Cavalier in the 84th minute but narrowly missed the target.
Moments later, Cibao’s Eddipo Rodríguez unleashed a powerful shot from distance, forcing another crucial save from Barclett.
The drama intensified in the dying moments as Cavalier’s Jalmaro Calvin found himself unmarked inside the penalty area but was denied by the right post.
Cibao’s final flurry in stoppage time was neutralized by Barclett, who made his third save of the night, clutching the ball to signal the end of the contest and spark jubilant celebrations for Cavalier.
Cavalier’s triumph marked the culmination of a remarkable campaign in which they showcased resilience, tactical acumen, and individual brilliance. In fact, it was no surprise that the Rudolph Speid-coached team swept the tournament’s individual awards.
This, as Jalmaro Calvin won the Youth Revelation Award; Vino Barclett copped the Best Goalkeeper Award; Shaquille Stein won the Golden Boot; and Dwayne Atkinson was named Player of the Tournament. The Cavalier also took home the Fair Play Award.
Having finished runners-up in 2023, Atkinson pointed out that Cavalier’s journey to the 2024 title was a story of redemption as the team demonstrated their growth and maturity by handling the pressure of playing in hostile territory and prevailing on the grand stage.
“We kept our composure. They were leading us two-love, but we knew we needed only one (goal), and we came back and got the job done, and we kept a clean sheet in the second half,” Atkinson said.
“The most difficult moment was when they led us 2-0; our heads were down, but we came back in the second half and regrouped and kept fighting, and we give God thanks. The goal gave us the momentum to keep fighting, and we came out victorious. This is one of my biggest dreams in my career. It’s a very proud moment for me, my coach, and all the fans from Jamaica. So we will give God thanks and celebrate,” he added.
With this victory, Cavalier secured a coveted spot in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, entering the tournament in the Round of 16. Their achievement also signals a resurgence of Jamaican football at the regional level after Harbour View’s triumphs in 2004 and 2007, and Portmore United’s 2005 and 2019 wins.
Haiti's Real Hope FA secure third place in Carib Cup and historic Champions Cup berth
Haitian club Real Hope FA clinched a 3-2 victory over Dominican Republic’s Moca FC in the second leg of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup third-place series at Estadio Moca 85 on Tuesday.
The win secured a 4-2 aggregate triumph and confirmed Real Hope’s place in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, marking their first-ever appearance in the prestigious tournament.
Entering the second leg with a 1-0 lead from the first encounter, thanks to Stanley Joseph’s lone goal, Real Hope FA capitalized on their advantage. While Moca FC pushed for an early breakthrough, it was the visitors who looked more composed in the first half.
Huguens Michel nearly doubled Real Hope’s aggregate lead in the 38th minute with a curling free kick that rattled the right post, leaving the home crowd relieved but wary of the threat posed by the Haitian team.
However, the breakthrough for Real Hope came in the 66th minute, when Angelo Exilus finished off a swift counterattack with a precise right-footed strike inside the box.
That goal not only extended their aggregate lead to 2-0 but also placed significant pressure on the hosts. However, they responded just five minutes later, when Guillermo de Peña unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from the edge of the box in the 71st minute to equalize on the night and breathe life into the Dominican side’s comeback hopes.
De Peña struck again in the 79th minute, this time he converted from close range after a well-placed header by Gustavo Ascona. His second goal of the night tied the aggregate score at 2-2 but left Moca still needing another goal to overturn Real Hope’s crucial away-goal advantage.
Real Hope FA, undeterred by Moca’s resurgence, reclaimed control in the closing stages as Daniel Saint-Fleur delivered a stunning strike from outside the box in the 90th minute.
Rapha Intervil then added the finishing touch in stoppage time, calmly slotting home from close range after being set up by Rikanel Chery in the 90+5 minute to cap a memorable night for Real Hope.
With the 4-2 aggregate win, Real Hope FA not only claimed third place in the tournament but also earned their debut qualification for the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Kingston College book Manning Cup final berth with 2-0 win over Hydel High
Kingston College (KC) continued their quest for schoolboy football supremacy with a composed 2-0 victory over Hydel High in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup semifinal at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
A brace from Guyanese forward Matrim Martin (16th and 90+1) secured the North Street-based school's place in Friday’s final, where they will aim to cop a 17th Manning Cup lien, having last triumphed in 2021.
They will meet first-time finalists St Catherine High in the 6:15pm showpiece.
Though not entirely pleased with performance, Kingston College’s Head coach, Vassell Reynolds, welcomed the victory, as they are now within touching distance of adding another Manning Cup title to their storied history.
“I am a little bit disappointed, especially with the first half, because the last three games we performed very well, and we were banking on the fact that we would have carried it over to the semi-final. But maybe they were a little bit nervous because this team knocked us out at the same stage last year, but we wanted to win and we got that, so I am very proud of the boys,” Reynolds said.
Both teams began the match with energy and intent, but it was Kingston College that carved out the first meaningful chance. Martin’s firm header in the early minutes forced Hydel goalkeeper Idrian Robinson into action, signaling Kingston College’s attacking intentions.
Their persistence paid off in the 16th minute when Hydel’s defence failed to clear their lines under pressure, and Martin capitalized with a precise strike from the top of the 18-yard box, sending the Kingston College supporters into raptures.
Hydel had a golden opportunity to respond just four minutes later when a defensive mix-up in Kingston College’s backline gifted Sean-John Curchar a chance from point-blank range. However, the centre forward fired high, letting Kingston College off the hook.
Though both teams continued to show attacking ambition, they struggled to convert half-chances into goals as Kingston College remained 1-0 up at the break.
It was more of the same after the interval, with both teams displaying flashes of attacking promise but lacking the finishing touch.
Kingston College came close to doubling their lead in the 69th minute when Kamaul Patterson broke free behind defenders, only for Robinson to leave his line well and deny the effort.
Hydel, desperate to find an equaliser, had their best chance in the 87th minute. A long cross found an unmarked D’Sean Henry at the far post, but his tame header was comfortably gathered by Kingston College’s goalkeeper, Malique Williams.
The game’s decisive moment came in the dying embers of stoppage time when Martin outsprinted two Hydel defenders and fired a powerful low shot past Robinson at the near post to seal the Purples victory.
It was another heartbreak for Hydel’s Head coach, Devon Anderson, who consistently failed to get over the semi-final hurdle.
“I am very much disappointed. It seems like this is a very familiar place for me to come knock at the door, and the door is still closed. But that’s just the game; if you don’t execute, you don’t win,” Anderson noted.
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