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Premier League | Gameweek 26

Feb 25, 2024 at 1.30pm UK

Molineux Stadium

Wolves
1 - 0
Sheff Utd

Sarabia (30')
Semedo (72'), Gomes (90+6')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Ahmedhodzic (72')

Gary O'Neil: 'Display against Burnley should be Wolverhampton Wanderers' benchmark'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 22 February 2024

O'Neil: 'Display against Burnley should be Wolves benchmark'

Head coach Gary O'Neil surprisingly suggests that he views Wolverhampton Wanderers' 1-0 win over Burnley as one of his favourite performances of the season.

Head coach Gary O'Neil has revealed that he views Wolverhampton Wanderers' performance against Burnley earlier in the season as one that he views as a benchmark.

Despite only taking over in the days prior to the opening Premier League fixture of the campaign at Manchester United, O'Neil has progressed Wolves into one of the most entertaining teams in the division.

A total of 39 goals have been scored in 25 games, already more than have been netted in the previous three campaigns, and Wolves have put together a number of eye-catching wins.

Manchester City have been defeated at Molineux, while the West Midlands outfit have impressively recorded doubles over each of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

However, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, O'Neil has claimed that he views an unspectacular 1-0 win over Burnley as one of the games that have satisfied him the most.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hwang Hee-chan scores their first goal on December 5, 2023 © Reuters

On that occasion, Burnley squandered one double chance before Hwang Hee-chan scored the only goal of the contest, with Wolves later seeing out the game in the second half with minimal fuss.

Addressing reporters ahead of a meeting with Sheffield United, another relegation-threatened side, on Sunday, O'Neil has hinted that he would like to witness more of the same.

The Englishman said: "The importance of being really solid in situations around our goal is huge because of the lift we gave Brentford - we gave them a lead and it was going to be tough enough at 0-0.

"But keeping pushing at 0-0 and trying to find a way to get yourself in front is a much better feeling than giving them a soft goal and having to fight your way back.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil celebrates after the match on November 11, 2023 © Reuters

"I think the Burnley game was what we need to be like - as tough as they were to break down, we didn't give them anything silly. We managed to stay in control of the game, keep pushing and then, when we found our moment, it was enough to win it for us.

"So we need to make sure we are really solid around our box, really well-drilled, not giving anyone anything soft and then using the attacking talent we have had to try to create as many chances as possible."

Earlier in the campaign, Wolves succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sheffield United, who benefitted from a controversial penalty deep into added-on time.

Wolves sit in 11th position in the Premier League standings, albeit just three points adrift of seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, who they play in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday.