A game of numbers - Premier League weekend in picturespublished at 18:48
18:48
Henry Brownsey BBC Sport journalist
There were plenty of memorable numbers across the weekend's Premier League football...
1 - How many games it took Brighton's Matt O'Riley to open his account in the top flight.
250 - How many appearances Bruno Fernandes has now made for Manchester United, registering a combined 155 goals and assists in this time.
4 - Consecutive defeats for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side, and the first time he has had such a losing run in his managerial career.
28 - Points Liverpool boss Arne Slot has earned in the Premier League in his first 11 games in charge - the joint-most of any new manager.
80 - Seconds between Bournemouth going 2-1 up and Mikkel Damsgaard equalising for Brentford.
1:48 - How long into the game Pablo Sarabia put Wolves ahead against Southampton - becoming the club's earliest Premier League goalscorer.
22 years, six months, two weeks and three days - The amount of time Ipswich Town had gone without a Premier League victory before Sunday's win at Tottenham.
'Firefighting will not suffice' - what next for O'Neil?published at 12:38
12:38
George Lakin Fan writer
Gary O'Neil survives, and his post-match fist pumps to the South Bank speak to his remarkable ability to shift sentiment. Just last week he didn't know what he was doing, and was told as much.
Marmite pales into insignificance compared with this when it comes to splitting opinion.
The pervading narrative is that O'Neil is still learning on the job - an unpolished diamond and one of the "best young operators" in the game, according to the board.
His future, supposedly, is yet to have even been discussed, such is their faith.
The reality is his youth and inexperience are dubious concepts. Mikel Arteta, Andoni Iraola, Enzo Maresca, Steve Cooper, Arne Slot, Kieran McKenna, Russell Martin and Ruben Amorim are all within five years of him either side, while Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler is a decade younger.
Ultimately, he is among his peers.
The adage "it's the hope that kills you" has taken on a new meaning: the higher-ups' high hopes for O'Neil feel like a punter who naively believes the "free beer tomorrow" sign chalked up behind the bar.
And yet, despite unconvincing performances, results since Brentford have improved. Arguably, O’Neil has achieved only a point or two less than anyone could have in the four matches since.
To survive long term, however, excuses must stop and philosophies must begin to show. Any side with a spine as strong as the likes of Matheus Cunha, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Joao Gomes, Mario Lemina and Santiago Bueno should not be languishing in the relegation zone and still without a distinct identity.
From the shoots of that first win over Southampton, O'Neil must build this team in his image. How Wolves express themselves is a reflection of him: his beliefs, his ideologies, his principles.
At the moment, that screams uncertainty. We look a side lacking conviction and confidence, riddled with fragility, fear and self-doubt, and on the brink of collapse.
Tetchy. Much like our manager.
The noise surrounding him is loud and the fanbase reactive (which can work both ways), but O’Neil's biggest challenge is undoubtedly - among the chaos - to find himself.
'Win over Southampton now has to be the platform for improvement'published at 12:22
12:22
BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions about the battle to avoid relegation this season.
Nick asked: Do you think Wolves' win over Southampton has only given Gary O'Neil a stay of execution, or do you think he can turn it around? The three points were important, but the performance again was poor. With the quality of players we have, it is hard to argue against a better manager getting much more out of this squad.
Phil answered: Time will tell on the long term but there is no doubt that was a huge result for O'Neil and Wolves. It was all about the win on Saturday - the substance, not the style.
It is clear the club want to stick by him and admire him but a loss to Southampton at home would have ratcheted up the pressure, which is why it was portrayed in many quarters as a must-win game.
In mitigation, O'Neil did lose some important players such as Max Kilman and Pedro Neto in the summer, as well as having a tough opening spell of fixtures. The club clearly showed its faith with a new four-year contract in the summer.
This vital win against Southampton now has to be the platform for improvement for Wolves and O'Neil because they are still in a precarious position.
Gossip: Moyes wanted by multiple Premier League clubspublished at 06:54
06:54
David Moyes is eyeing a return to Premier League management with Crystal Palace, Wolves, Southampton and Leicester all potentially interested. (Talksport), external
Opta supercomputer predicts trouble for promoted sidespublished at 19:30 11 November
19:30 11 November
Opta's supercomputer has tipped promoted Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City as the three most likely teams to get relegated from the Premier League this season.
Southampton are bottom and winless after 10 games since returning to the top flight, with the computer giving them 94.9% chance of being relegated.
Despite climbing out of the bottom three with an impressive first win of the season against Tottenham at this weekend, Ipswich are the next side being tipped to go down with a 70.7% chance.
While Leicester are 15th, three points clear of the drop zone, they are the third most likely side to get relegated according to Opta, with a 46.9% chance.
Wolves, Everton and Crystal Palace are the remaining sides that have an 18% or more chance of falling down to the second tier by May.
'Wolves still in danger and O'Neil still needs results'published at 17:00 11 November
17:00 11 November
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Victory over Southampton on Saturday came with a healthy dose of relief at Molineux.
There is no desire to part company with Gary O'Neil. There is a firm grip of reality and perspective at the club's Compton training ground but defeat against the Saints would have pushed him to the brink.
Had Wolves been bottom and winless after 11 games going into the international break, O'Neil's future would have been bleak.
Wolves can consider themselves fortunate Ryan Manning's leveller was disallowed after Mateus Fernandes was ruled to have fouled Nelson Semedo.
Southampton were also upset there were no fouls given for challenges on Cameron Archer and Fernandes in the build-up to Matheus Cunha's clincher.
But O'Neil can argue Wolves are due some luck after last season's trouble with VAR and victory can give them a springboard.
There is a belief, both internally and externally, the squad is good enough to survive.
Yet Wolves remain in a precarious position - Ipswich's win at Tottenham hardly helped matters.
Fulham and Bournemouth await after the international break, games which Wolves still need results from both to maintain momentum.
Fulham have won four of their past seven and, while Bournemouth's form has been patchy, they have beaten Arsenal and Manchester City while also taking a point at Aston Villa recently.
Every game is winnable but it would be dangerous to view those matches as Wolves' immediate salvation.
They are still in danger and O'Neil still needs results.
John: A frustrating first-half performance after a stunning opening goal. We then sat deep which was strange as we are much better going forward but clearly afraid of giving away possession. In the second half we came out with much more energy, snapping away at Southampton and Joao Gomes in particular was immense. A great Matheus Cunha strike. Deserved win.
Geoff: Woeful, sideways, mind-numbing and pedestrian football, Gary O'Neil didn’t win the game... VAR ensured Wolves got a win! He has taken us from a fast counter-attacking style to the slow, patient, run-the-clock-down rubbish we saw under Mick McCarthy all those years ago. Far from a convincing win.
Graham: At last, three points. Dare I say the pendulum is swinging our way for a change? Two decisions have gone for us in as many weeks but not before time. Why did we not play like we did in the second half in the first? The international break will now give us time to enjoy this result. Well done lads.
Southampton fans
Darren: We had 71% possession and not a single shot on target. We are so one-dimensional. Russell Martin doesn't listen and will be sacked saying "we had lots of possession". He is clearly not a Premiership manager. Fix it now before it's too late!
David: Our manager continues to be a predictable 'one-trick pony', who seems incapable of fully appreciating how easy it is for other teams to set up, be patient and wait to pounce on our inevitable mistakes. Too many of our squad are Championship level, and Jan Bednarek is the ultimate ball watcher.
Derek: Just really, really disappointing. When it's a game we cannot lose and we have zero shots on target, it simply isn't good enough. Away from home we have to go for it and pressurise the home team because we can't even rely on our home form at the moment. Sadly, relegation is looking inevitable.
An 'ugly' win - but result was 'all that mattered'published at 10:56 11 November
10:56 11 November
Wolves fan Ryan Leister, host of the Wolves Report podcast, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about Saturday's 2-0 win over Southampton:
"I feel like we'd have been having a totally different conversation [about boss Gary O'Neil] if Wolves hadn't won.
"It wasn't pretty - in fact, it was the complete opposite, it was ugly. Southampton had nearly 70% of the ball, but Wolves had one half-chance and one proper chance and took them.
"If you put that performance against a Manchester City or a Liverpool, you'd say it was a tactical masterclass so there is a bit of football snobbery involved because of how ugly it was. But all that mattered on Saturday was Wolves getting the win."
On goalscorer Matheus Cunha: "We are very lucky to have a player of his quality. He's a bit of a maverick.
"When that second goal went in, the relief in the stadium and the joy on my face must have been a picture. I was so happy. We've waited since April for that win. It's been a long time coming and I'm delighted we're off the mark."
'Sensational football IQ'published at 08:11 11 November
08:11 11 November
Former Premier League defender Micah Richards spoke to BBC Match of the Day about Matheus Cunha's performance in Saturday's victory over Southampton:
"Gary O'Neil talked about getting him to to a position where he can affect the game and he was sort of playing as a left-centre.
"His football IQ is absolutely sensational. He's the one who can unlock the doors. He finds the little pockets of space and makes the right decisions at the right times.
"He's always scanning where he needs to be and always plays the right pass. He is so key in what Wolves are trying to do. He is the best at everything.
"Off the ball, he can do a little bit more - but on the ball, he is certainly the main man in this team."
Gossip: Old Gold want Liverpool's Endopublished at 07:11 11 November
07:11 11 November
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, 31, is in high demand as the Japan international continues to struggle for game time at Anfield, with Wolves, Fulham, Ipswich and AC Milan all interested. (Caught Offside, external)
O’Neil content to don his tin hat, winning ugly not an option for Martinpublished at 20:03 9 November
20:03 9 November
Tom Gayle BBC Match of the Day commentator at Molineux
This was your textbook six pointer. However, irrespective of the scoreline, the approach from the two men in charge was a strong indication of how each will go about their business when it comes to picking up points.
For Gary O’Neil the result was clearly more important than the performance. Despite leading 1-0, the majority of the first half was played out amidst an anxious atmosphere amongst the Wolves supporters, frustrated by the apparent lack of pressing from their team, and a reluctance to commit too many bodies forward.
We had the bizarre situation at one point where Rayan Ait-Nouri stood hand on hip in disbelief at his Head Coach’s instruction to play the ball backwards, rather than race forward with one of his counter attacking marauding runs home fans have come to expect. It was far from pretty at times, but O’Neil would argue the ends justified the means.
As for Russell Martin, and I won’t be the first or last to make this observation, Southampton appear stubbornly wedded to a possession based playing philosophy, that whatever the game situation or opponent, will not change. Speaking to both Martin, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis pre-match, they both made it clear the plan was to impose their game style on Wolves.
It was hard to keep track of the number of passes Southampton made with each venture forward. It’s no surprise they are still yet to score from a cross. Set-pieces and corners aside, never once did a Saints player opt to swing a ball into the box from open play and simply see what happens. Calculated and methodical, rather than throwing caution to the wind.
Time will tell how significant this game was in deciding the fortunes of both teams, and indeed the futures of both managers. Yet from I saw from up of the gantry, O’Neil appears content to don his tin hat when needed, and get the job done by any means necessary, whereas with Martin, winning ugly doesn’t seem to be an option he’s willing to explore.
'You have to be resilient in scrappy games like that'published at 17:55 9 November
17:55 9 November
Wolves captain Mario Lemina spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after victory against Southampton: "We have been struggling a lot since the begining of the season to try to find a way to win games. Sometimes it comes from scrappy games like that where you have to be resilient.
"The first half was really tough but we stayed together and really fought hard. At the end of the game when you feel this kind of resilience you desrrve the points."
On nervousness in the crowd: "Of course you feel it. Every time we have conceded in the last few weeks we heard it and we wanted to reverse it by getting the clean sheet. It was even better for the confidence to get it.
"After the international break we will come back to the league with a positive result. We are unbeaten in three games now and we take that forward. It is really good for us."
On Matheus Cunha's goal: "They are the type of players, the creative ones, who have to keep calm and trust the team and when they get the ball they have to show that they are the best on the pitch. What he is doing right now is amazing."
'Southampton are awkward to play against, we had to be patient'published at 17:46 9 November
17:46 9 November
Gary O'Neil spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Wolves' victory against Southampton: "Pleased for the group. They've given a lot and played better than we had today and came away with nothing. it was a gritty performance. Southampton are an awkward side to play against. We had to be patient. I thought we were excellent in the second half.
"We spoke a lot about this week about everyone being responsible. We did a lot of work on out-of-possession stuff. Half-time came at a good time for us and we could tweak it. It was a big clean sheet and I'm pleased for Jose Sa. He's had to work hard since Sam Johnstone came in.
On Matheus Cunha: "He's huge for us. He has such ability but he is one of those players who drifts and takes up positions. We work very hard on him on how it is to be a trusted team player when we don't have the ball. He's worked very hard on it after I spoke harshly to him after Brentford away. A big win for us and Matheus Cunha had a big say in it.
On the change in performance: "Brentford was a big mark for us. We went there and we were miles below our level. We should have got something off Man City here and then we've gone three unbeaten. It's going to be a big fight for us but we know we can turn it around."
Did you know?published at 17:42 9 November
17:42 9 November
Pablo Sarabia’s opener (1:48) was Wolves’ earliest ever Premier League goal, eclipsing Matt Jarvis’ strike against Blackpool in February 2011 (01:56).
Sutton's predictions: Wolves v Southamptonpublished at 09:27 9 November
09:27 9 November
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 11 he takes on Mylee and Tate from CBBC football drama Jamie Johnson FC (JJFC).
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
This is the battle of the bottom two, and it is a big game for both managers going into the international break, although I don't think either side have been as bad as their results suggest.
Southampton will take a lot of heart from their win over Everton and fair play to their manager Russell Martin, who has stuck to his guns over their style of play.
It is Wolves who I am backing here, though. They have always got a goal in them.
Gary O'Neil's side got a bit of a break last time out when Crystal Palace had that late goal disallowed, but I think they are in for a more comfortable afternoon this time.
Mylee's prediction: 1-2
Southampton finally won last week and I think they are going to get another one here.
Tate's prediction: 1-0
They have both made shaky starts but Wolves have a bit more grit.
O'Neil refuses to let talk about his future distract from points huntpublished at 08:15 9 November
08:15 9 November
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
If Gary O'Neil is feeling the pressure he is not showing it.
Rock bottom Wolves host Southampton on Saturday still looking for a first win of the season, with the visitors a point and place above them in the table.
Only five of 18 teams previously without a victory after 10 Premier League games have survived, and Wolves are four points from the safety line.
Last season's form - with just one win in 10 games after the shock 3-2 FA Cup quarter final defeat by Coventry - has continued into this term.
It is a comparison O'Neil has previously dismissed as irrelevant and at Compton on Friday the relaxed boss refused to show any fears for the future.
He said: "I have zero concern around my future. It is what it is. When I came here I knew how tough it could be and I embraced all of it.
"The moment I leave or I'm asked to leave I will be really proud of the work that's been done and the world moves on. Wolves move on.
"Until that moment they will get everything from me. The players are desperate to correct a few things people are saying about the group outside of here.
"We understand there have been challenges and we continue to face a challenging time. There will be decisions to make for everyone, like there are from me like team selection.
"Jeff [Shi, chairman] and Matt Hobbs [sporting director] will have their own opinions and decisions to make on who is underperforming and not. We leave that side of things to them.
"I'm really comfortable going into the game with whatever is on the line according to people outside of here. Three points for Wolves is far more important than my job."