Wolves chairman Jeff Shi says everyone at the club is "united" behind head coach Gary O'Neil as they approach Saturday's relegation six-pointer against Ipswich Town.
Wolves are 19th in the Premier League, four points adrift of safety, after losing three consecutive games against Bournemouth, West Ham and Everton, shipping 10 goals in those matches.
That run of results, coming off the back of a four-match unbeaten streak, has caused supporters to turn against O'Neil, who was targeted by chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" during and after Wolves' recent 4-0 defeat at Everton.
Reports from The Athletic have suggested Wolves considered several managers – including Graham Potter, David Moyes, Sergio Conceicao and Massimiliano Allegri – as potential replacements during the November international break.
But with none of those willing to take charge, O'Neil remains in situ ahead of Saturday's pivotal clash with Ipswich, who are level on points with Wolves in 18th.
"I don't need to familiarise supporters with what happened in the summer of 2023, they all know it," Shi wrote in a column for The Express & Star.
"But because of that, the destiny of Gary O'Neil and Wolves met at an unexpected moment, and I remain grateful to Gary for stepping into such a demanding situation just days before the beginning of a new season, and for his commitment to the club every day since then.
"While he knows that improving our results is essential for everyone associated with the football club, we are united in supporting him as all of us strive to make that happen."
Though Shi understands fan unrest, he insists the mood inside the club remains positive.
"While emotions make football special, success in the game is largely a science. I believe in the power of positivity because negativity achieves nothing," Shi said.
"Just as atoms remain atoms, how we perceive, combine, and connect them defines their collective value, and positive energy grants the group of atoms life and vitality."
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, meanwhile, knows the Tractor Boys could turn the Molineux crowd against Wolves if they make a positive start.
"You know going away from home there are always two edges to that sword. Especially against a team who are not in a position supporters are happy with," McKenna said.
"We know if they get momentum up, if they get the first goal then I'm sure they will all pull together because they are all fighting really, really hard for the result.
"You also know that if you can impose yourself on the game and you can get the first goal, then you have a chance of turning that momentum against them."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wolves – Jorgen Strand Larsen
Larsen has been involved in six goals in seven home Premier League appearances for Wolves (five goals, one assist).
He is yet to finish on the winning side in any home game when he has scored (one draw, three defeats) with only Dougie Freedman (six games) and Vitaly Janelt (five) scoring in more home games without tasting victory in Premier League history.
His six Premier League goals overall this season have come from chances worth just 3.57 expected goals (xG). Only seven players – including Wolves team-mate Matheus Cunha (seven goals from 3.38 xG) – have overperformed their figures by a greater margin.
Ipswich Town – Conor Chaplin
Chaplin scored his first Premier League goal in Ipswich's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth last week.
Across the last three seasons, Chaplin has scored 40 league goals – 19 more than any other Tractor Boys player. If they are to earn a huge three points in the battle for safety, they may need to lean upon one of their most reliable stars.
MATCH PREDICTION – WOLVES WIN
This is the first Premier League meeting between Wolves and Ipswich. The Tractor Boys have won six of the last seven top-flight games between the sides (one defeat), most recently a 3-0 away triumph in April 1984.
However, Wolves are unbeaten in the sides' last seven league matches overall, winning two and drawing five, keeping a clean sheet in each of the last five. They last faced off in the 2017-18 Championship campaign, with Wolves winning both games 1-0.
Wolves have shipped 34 goals in 16 home Premier League games in 2024, with Leeds United in 2022 the last team to concede more (35). The last time Wolves conceded more in a calendar year was when they were relegated in 2012 (47 in 23 games), the only other year in their history in which they have averaged two or more goals conceded per home match.
O'Neil's side have been particularly vulnerable from dead balls, conceding a league-high 15 goals from set-piece situations this term – only in their relegation campaigns of 2003-04 (20) and 2011-12 (18) have they conceded more in a single Premier League season.
However, the top-flight experience in their squad – as well as home advantage – could prove decisive. Ipswich have lost their last three league games, their second run of three defeats in a row this season.
They had never previously lost consecutive league games under McKenna before this campaign, but they could now lose four in a row for the first time since March 2020, when they were in League One.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Wolves – 49.2%
Ipswich Town – 26.4%
Draw – 24.4%
Rangers draw important in context of Tottenham injuries, says Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou is confident Tottenham's 1-1 draw at Rangers will end up being an important point in the context of their Europa League campaign.
Spurs put in another disjointed performance as they failed to win for a fifth straight game but it could have been much worse at Ibrox.
Hamza Igamane opened the scoring for the home side and, even though Dejan Kulusevski equalised, it took a brilliant stop from Fraser Forster late on to deny Cyriel Dessers a winner for Rangers.
Spurs are playing with depleted numbers right now with defenders Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies all sidelined, something Spurs boss Postecoglou said is having an impact.
"I think it's kind of the situation at the moment we're in, we're in a bit of a struggle, down on numbers, a lot of them we're asking for a lot of repeated efforts, it takes it's toll," said the Australian, who is coming under increased scrutiny from some sections of the Spurs support.
"The next round of European games are not for a while which will help for sure. It'll be an important point for us.
"I thought the substitutes made a difference and we scored a good goal, had other good moments and a great save by Fraser [Forster] at the end."
Ex-Celtic boss Postecoglou has only won once in five trips to Ibrox as an opposing manager and he acknowledged the impact of a lively crowd.
"It's expected in the context of the game, it's tough game, the crowd and the atmosphere, tight first half, not many clear-cut chances," he added.
"Then they scored early in the second half and the crowd gets behind them.
"They're always difficult to play against here at Ibrox, especially on European nights.
"The nature of the contest, the atmosphere, not many teams come here and win so you kind of expect it to be a tough game.
"We weren’t anywhere near our best which I think is fair to say and at the same time, we’re in a period of games where we’re grinding through at the moment.
"Obviously [we are playing] with a fairly depleted squad. So, in the context of that, in the end, I think it was a good outcome for us."
Russo powers Arsenal to victory as Man City suffer Greenwood blow
Alessia Russo scored twice to power Arsenal to a 3-1 victory over Valerenga in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday.
Victory over Juventus last time out had already ensured the Gunners' progression to the last eight.
But they gave themselves a chance of finishing ahead of Bayern Munich in Group C with a convincing away win in Oslo.
In-form Russo opened the scoring with a brilliant, curling strike in the 25th minute, having been set up by Frida Maanum, who turned scorer for Arsenal's second before half-time.
Russo doubled her tally after the break, volleying in from Caitlin Foord's cross, before Tilde Lindwall grabbed a consolation late on for the already-eliminated hosts.
"I think we played well throughout the game," Arsenal's interim boss Renee Slegers said. "I think we managed the game really well, the circumstances, the type of opposition; we didn't allow them much.
"With some new players on the pitch, some new partnerships, I am very proud of the team. This was important for us to set ourselves up for the final game to be decisive. That's why we are very happy about this."
After winning four consecutive Champions League matches for the first time since the 2019-20 season, Arsenal sit one point behind Group C leaders Bayern ahead of hosting the German giants next week.
Bayern ran out 4-0 victors over Juventus, who managed just one shot on target and 0.3 expected goals.
Jovana Damnjanovic, Pernille Harder, Klara Buhl and substitute Alara Sehitler were on target for Bayern, who have now lost just one of their last 19 home matches in the competition (W15 D3), scoring 14 goals across their last three such encounters.
In Group D, Manchester City maintained their perfect record by beating St. Polten 2-0, though Gareth Taylor's team lost key defender Alex Greenwood to a serious-looking knee injury.
Greenwood had to be taken off on a stretcher at Joie Stadium, where teenager Lily Murphy netted her first senior goal and Kerstin Casparij put the game beyond the visitors with her maiden strike for City.
"I've waited two-and-a-half years, better late than never," said Casparij.
"We've been speaking about being in the box more and I've got forward a bit more."
Holders Barcelona dispatched Hammerby 3-0, with Ewa Pajor helping herself to a brace before Aitana Bonmati rounded off a routine win.
Clement hails Igamane for taking 'major steps' as brilliant Rangers denied by Tottenham
Philippe Clement says Hamza Igamane is taking "major steps" after scoring for Rangers in the pulsating 1-1 Europa League draw with Tottenham.
The Moroccan opened the scoring just after half-time at a raucous Ibrox to give his side a deserved lead and make it five goals from as many games for the 22-year-old.
Igamane endured a slow start to life in Glasgow after joining in the previous transfer window but Rangers boss Clement hailed the effort and application he is showing to improve.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "Nobody is undroppable only when they play like this every time, we need to see where his physical level is.
"But he's making major steps forward. A few months ago physically and tactically it was a long wait but he's one of the boys who has the hunger and desire to grow physically.
"There's a lot of potential in this group to improve."
Dejan Kulusevski denied Rangers what would have been a famous win against a Spurs side managed by former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou.
Clement believes it is a sign of the growing mentality within the ranks that he and his side were disappointed to only come away with a point against a side that has the riches of the Premier League behind them.
"That's what it's about to be at Rangers, it's about who I am," he added. "I want that mentality, also in my squad I saw they were also not satisfied with a point.
"We need to keep this hunger and desire to be better. There is a lot of potential in this squad, it's about getting experiences like tonight.
"We need to decide things faster, be more aggressive, react faster. But they all did it, it's about keeping that hunger and desire."
One disappointment was the sight of centre-back John Souttar going off injured in the first half just a few days before the all Old Firm Scottish League Cup final with Celtic on Sunday.
Clement said of Souttar: "I don't know [how he is] for the moment, it's never a good thing when you need to step off in the first half, I don't know the situation."
Rangers endured a mixed start to the season but have now found some momentum, going nine unbeaten and winning four in a row before this impressive draw.
Clement is delighted to be taking that form into Sunday's Scottish League Cup final against Celtic.
"The synergy is back with the fans, they see the work the team is doing, see the way we want to play and impose ourselves also," he said.
"It's going to be a massive final on Sunday with Celtic, it's 50-50 with the supporters so everyone is happy with that."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
