Wolverhampton Wanderers

Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Wolves' Premier League match against West Ham at Molineux on Saturday.

Here are the main headlines from his news conference:

• Hwang Hee-chan and Craig Dawson both trained with the team on Friday after their recent injuries. "It was their first main session, they've done a couple of smaller ones, they'll be reviewed after the session and we'll see if they're going to be part of the matchday squad."

• Matheus Cunha has had "no issues" following his cameo from the bench at Burnley, while Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is "doing better now" but still not available for selection.

• O'Neil spoke after the Burnley match about the club's squad depth and the failure to add a new striker in January. "I always try to speak really honestly and openly around situations and it was more an explanation as to the situation we find ourselves in and something we have to learn from," said the Wolves boss on Friday.

• He continued: "I know the club have invested an awful lot of money over the years and they're not in a position to do so at the moment. It's left us in a situation where we are short, but there wasn't too much that could be done about it. We tried, we worked hard on it, and in the end financially we couldn't get anything done that we felt would help us. It's something that I think it's important we learn from for next season."

• A win on Saturday would take Wolves above West Ham and, depending on other results, potentially into seventh spot. O'Neil said: "There's been a lot of hard work gone in to get us into this position from everybody. We're still right there with eight games to go, we're still in with a shout [of qualifying for Europe]. It will take a lot of hard work still to get us there but I'm really pleased with the position we find ourselves in."

• On Saturday's opponents: "West Ham will be a tough test definitely, they've got a lot of their key players back now. They went through a tough spell with a few attacking players out but they've got most of them back. It will be a test but one we're really looking forward to. The players worked hard for their point away from home [at Burnley] and to be able to add three at home this weekend would make it a good week for us."

Follow Friday's Premier League news conferences

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Wolves and West Ham in the Premier League.

• Wolves have won four of their seven Premier League home games against West Ham (D1 L2), with these wins coming in their past five meetings. Only against Chelsea (five) and Fulham (six) have they won more at Molineux in the competition.

• West Ham have won five of their past seven Premier League games against Wolves (L2), though both defeats in this run have come in their past two visits to Molineux.

• West Ham United's past 20 away Premier League matches have seen at least two goals scored, with 75 scored in total (32 for, 43 against). In their past away game they lost 4-3 to Newcastle despite leading 3-1, their first away Premier League loss when two or more goals ahead since May 2011 at Wigan Athletic.

• Since winning their final three Premier League games in 2023, West Ham United have won just two of 12 matches in 2024 (D6 L4). No side has drawn more games this calendar year than the Hammers (six, level with Everton).

• Rayan Ait-Nouri has scored three goals in his past four appearances in all competitions for Wolves - only one fewer than he netted in his first 105 games for the club (four).

• West Ham's Jarrod Bowen has been involved in 12 goals in his 14 away Premier League appearances this season (eight goals, four assists), the joint-most by a Hammers player in a single season in the competition, along with Dimitri Payet in 2015-16 (five goals, seven assists).

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from this midweek's Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Wolves' 26-year-old English centre-back Max Kilman is on Manchester United's summer transfer shortlist. (Times - subscription required, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

At a time when almost all of Wolves' recognised strikers have been out injured, Rayan Ait-Nouri has found an opportune moment to hit form in front of goal.

The Algeria international, 22, has scored three times in Wolves' past four games in league and cup, compared with just four goals in his first 105 appearances in gold and black.

Ait-Nouri's natural talent has rarely been in question since he joined Wolves in 2020 but, in terms of his influence on the team and the consistency of his performances, this has been a breakout season for him.

The system that has served Gary O'Neil's side so well in 2023-24 gets the best out of wing-backs Ait-Nouri and Nelson Semedo, another player enjoying his most impressive season to date at Molineux.

The skilful Ait-Nouri, in particular, has been given freedom to carry the ball from deep and join in with attacks, in the knowledge that there are three centre-backs in position as defensive cover if a move breaks down.

Since Wolves' injury crisis took hold, Ait-Nouri has looked their most threatening attacking outlet. At Burnley on Tuesday, he was utilised higher up the pitch as a left-sided attacker, popped up with a headed equaliser before half-time and had Wolves' best chance for a second-half winner.

He has featured in 26 of Wolves' 30 league games this season - his highest tally in a Premier League season - despite being with Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

No wonder, then, that Premier League giants such as Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs to have been linked with a move in various gossip columns in recent weeks.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

"We warned the club that we were overloading players," said Gary O’Neil just after his latest patched-up selection had battled to a point at Burnley. "It was a small group and we were using them an awful lot, and there was a risk of our injury record getting worse in the second half of the season.

"On top of that, if we lost a couple of attackers, I explained to the club that we would be in a real difficult situation.

"From my point of view, an understanding of what my squad were giving and where we might end up, and [Sporting Director] Matt Hobbs was on board with that as well - a real clear message that we were overloading the players and we could have done with a bit more depth. And to be fair to the club they weren’t in a position that they could help us in January."

The problem is not that Wolves have more injuries than most of the other clubs in the Premier League, but the lack of experienced back-up.

Given the club’s well-documented concerns over staying on the right side of the financial rules last summer, they were going to have to compromise on either quantity or quality. The choice has been justified – in as much that it’s better to be having these regrets with 42 points banked and no danger of having any taken away.

You can think of a few clubs who wouldn’t mind swapping places with Wolves.

O’Neil’s frustrations will be widely shared among supporters, and it may be that, despite their unstinting efforts, Wolves’ hopes of breaking through to Europe will fade this month. But it will be many months yet until we can judge whether their overall policy – from the position they were in at the end of last season – has turned out for the best.

We’ll see whether the general understanding that Wolves will be confident enough to spend more freely this summer turns out to be true. If not, there will be more difficult questions to answer. But the list of clubs returning dire financial results is longer now.

This summer there may be many more sellers, and fewer eager buyers, than in the past. You never know when chances to do something special will come along, and Wolves’ lack of available forwards just now is galling. But it may yet prove that they took their corrective action just in time, at the top of the market, before the big wave hit.

*Wolves v West Ham – live commentary on BBC Radio WM (DAB Black Country), Saturday 3pm

*BBC Radio WM Football Phone-In – weeknights 6-7pm

Nick Mashiter
Senior football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Without their main strikeforce and a key defender Wolves have been sucked into a perfect storm.

Teenagers Leon Chiwome and Nathan Fraser have made their debuts this season, exposing the lack of depth up front.

Matheus Cunha did at least return from his hamstring injury weeks ahead of schedule, replacing Chiwome in the second half of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Burnley, while Hwang Hee-Chan is closing in on fitness.

Yet missing defender Craig Dawson has caused boss Gary O’Neil another issue.

Stripped of their first-choice front three of Hwang, Cunha and Pedro Neto – who could miss the rest of the season with his own hamstring problem – Wolves have no outlet.

It has inevitably put more pressure on the defence and Dawson’s absence has left them feeling the strain. Their recent run has coincided with his absence following a groin injury.

Without him they have lost some ground – if only slightly – in the race for Europe while also suffered that shock FA Cup defeat to Coventry.

While Cunha, Hwang and Neto provide the threat, Dawson undoubtedly gives Wolves certainty and confidence at the back.

He has made 39 blocks in the Premier League this season – second only to James Tarkowski’s 43 - and is in the top 10 for clearances and headed clearances with 119 and 65 respectively.

The 33-year-old is back in training though – along with Hwang – and could be available to face West Ham at the weekend to give Wolves a lift for their final eight games.

We asked for your thoughts on Tuesday's Premier League game between Burnley and Wolves.

Here are some of your responses:

Burnley fans

Lance: The team tried hard and played some good football. Passing was sloppy on occasion, though, and the marking was poor when we conceded the equaliser. When will Benson get a decent run in the team? He needs more than 10 minutes or so!

Bob: Never a free-kick for the Wolves goal. Can't help thinking that too many decisions are going against us. Really needed the three points but we'll take one and move on to the next... oh yes - Everton.

Jack: If the manager tells the truth against the powers that be they are finished. That's Sean and Kompany. Pace and Kompany out.

Wolves fans

John: Valuable point against a Burnley side fighting for survival. The lack of strikers is clearly an issue and we had to adapt with only a small squad. Gary O'Neil has shown that he has tactical ability and the changes he has been forced to make are admirable. Cunha being back is great news but Dawson returning in defence would be so valuable. Much missed.

George: Apart from missing their injured attackers, Wolves sorely miss Dawson's solid presence in defence. Sa appeared exposed, and he was called several times to make vital blocks. The sooner he returns to the team the better. Cunha's return is most welcome.

Brian: Given the squad is so thin a draw at Burnley is a good result - well done to all the team. It says a lot about the spirit and attitude created by the head coach.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil to BBC Match of the Day:

"Probably a fair result on the balance of play. The first half it took us a while to get to grips with them. I thought in the second half we were much more comfortable and looked really threatening.

"It was a good effort from the lads. We're not at full strength at the moment, but we're working really hard and still fighting.

"Matheus Cunha's back and a point away from home takes us past last season's tally. Not a bad evening."

On the foul that led to Wolves' equaliser: "I haven't seen it back. It looked like they had a couple of nibbles at Rayan. I haven't seen it but I thought at the time there was a foul in there. Whether it was the last one, or the one before, there were a couple of nibbles in there."

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves, despite never really dominating, still missed a handful of chances at Turf Moor.

Early in the first half Joao Gomes met Matt Doherty's header across goal but could only flick an effort over the bar when well-placed in the area.

And, after the restart, goalscorer Rayan Ait-Nouri was denied by Burnley keeper Arijanet Muric when through on goal, while Mario Lemina's looping header from range glanced the outside of the post.

"It was a good effort from the lads," Wolves boss Gary O'Neil told BBC Match of the Day.

"We're not at full strength at the moment, but we're working really hard and still fighting."

Wolves' injuries, particularly to their forwards, has been well-reported and goes some way to explaining Tuesday's missed chances.

One boost for the West Midlands side then was the return of striker Matheus Cunha, who came off the bench late on to make his first appearance since injuring his hamstring in February.

So, while they didn't takes all three points, there are reasons to be cheerful for Wolves fans.

O'Neil put it best, adding: "Cunha's back and a point away from home takes us past last season's tally. Not a bad evening."

Here are the key facts and figures following the Premier League draw between Burnley and Wolves:

• Burnley are now unbeaten in four Premier League games (W1 D3), after losing four in a row before that. They have picked up six points in their past four fixtures, as many as they accrued in the 12 before that.

• Wolves are without a win on the road in three Premier League games (D1 L2), after winning three and drawing one of the four before that.

• Burnley have enjoyed just two wins in their past 18 Premier League home games (D3 L13), keeping just one clean sheet in that run.

• Each of Jacob Bruun Larsen's last three Premier League goals for Burnley have come at Turf Moor (four goals in total).

• Rayan Ait-Nouri has netted two goals in his past three Premier League appearances for Wolves, as many as he managed in his previous 87 games in the competition.

• Since his Premier League debut in January 2023, Pablo Sarabia has registered seven top-flight assists, with Pedro Neto the only Wolves player with more in that time.

Burnley missed out on boosting their Premier League survival hopes as they were held to a frustrating draw by Wolves at Turf Moor.

Jacob Bruun Larsen put the hosts in front after 37 minutes by superbly tucking away Dara O'Shea's cross.

But Wolves levelled just before half-time when Rayan Ait-Nouri headed in Pablo Sarabia's wide free-kick.

Had results gone their way Burnley could have moved within a point of Premier League safety on Tuesday.

Instead, Nottingham Forest's win over Fulham, combined with the Clarets' failure to find a winner against Wolves, means Vincent Kompany's side stay 19th - six points behind 17th-placed Forest.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Burnley fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Wolves fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Five matches make up Tuesday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

All kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Around the grounds - listen to BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of all things Premier League

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For the midweek matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he takes on UB40 drummer and Birmingham City fan Jimmy Brown.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Wolves were pretty limp in their defeat at Aston Villa and although their boss Gary O'Neil was right when he pointed out they were missing some key attacking players, the problem for him is if they are still missing them at Turf Moor.

Matheus Cunha is apparently close to a return after his hamstring injury, which will give them a boost up front, but I still feel like Burnley will give them a good game.

The Clarets were really hard done by against Chelsea, starting with the penalty awarded against them - which was a disgrace because I thought Mykhailo Mudryk dived - and followed by dismissals for Lorenz Assignon and manager Vincent Kompany,

But they still picked up a point and are now on their best run of results of the season with two draws and a win from their past three games.

They are only four points away from safety and a win here would be massive for them, but I don't think they will quite manage it. Still, even a draw would keep them in touch with the teams immediately above them.

Brown's prediction: 1-2

Read the rest of their predictions here

Here are the key facts and figures before Tuesday's Premier League fixture between Burnley and Wolves.

• Burnley are unbeaten in their past six home league games against Wolves (W4 D2), since a 2-1 loss in the Premier League in March 2010.

• Wolves have won three of their last four midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games (L1), as many as they had in their previous 16 (D4 L9).

• Burnley have had a league-high six red cards in the Premier League this season (players only) – the last team to have more in campaign were Newcastle and Aston Villa in 2014-15 (both 7).

• Burnley are unbeaten in their past three Premier League games (W1 D2), earning as many points in this run (5) as they had in their previous 11 matches combined (W1 D2 L8).

• Pablo Sarabia has created the most chances (46) and played the most passes into the box (145) for Wolves in the Premier League this season. Indeed, the Spaniard created five chances against Aston Villa last time out – his most in a game in the competition.

• Despite only playing four home games for Burnley, David Datro Fofana is the Clarets’ top scorer in the Premier League at Turf Moor this season (3). He’s netted three of their four home goals scored in these games (75%).

We asked for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Wolves.

Here are some of your responses:

Aston Villa fans

Rob: I thought the substitutions were bang on at a vital point in the game. Zaniolo was superb, especially his pressing, and must surely be pushing for a start at City on Wednesday night.

Nick: Another three points and that’s what counts. It may not have been that pretty but a win is a win and keeps us in fourth. Next game against Man City is huge!

Jon: We weren’t at it for the first 25 minutes and I was grateful for Emi’s world class save from Ait Nouri. However after 10 minutes of Villa pressure we scored and we didn’t really ever look back. Bit worried about Ollie Watkins but love watching Duran and Zaniolo at the moment UTV.

Wolves fans

Fraser: Wolves was second best here and without our best players it is easy to see why. Villa deserved to win, our season has been a success as many people were writing us off for relegation. Finishing top 10 and getting some players back fit is surely now the aim. Kilman could have done better for the one goal. We miss Dawson as a real leader!

John: The lads gave their all. Gomes was the best player on the pitch. It showed our lack of strength in depth in the final third and that was the only difference between the two sides.

Mike: Disappointed with the result, we dominated for the first 20 minutes of each half but only created one clear chance which Ait Nouri missed. Really lacking a goal threat without our three main strikers. We will soldier on to the end of the season. At least some of our youngsters got some Premier League minutes.

Alex Scott introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa v Wolves

Gary O'Neil spoke to Sky Sports after Wolves' defeat to Aston Villa: "Really disappointed with the result, we didn't come here to lose. Performance wise, they gave loads. Higher possession, higher xG. You add Pedro Neto, [Matheus] Cunha to that xG and I'm sure it would have mattered. We take it on the chin and we get ready for Tuesday.

"We end up 1-0 down and it relieves pressure around the place even though we were having load and loads of joy. It's one we have to take and get ready for Burnley.

"Some big moments either end, two of theirs go in and ours didn't. I can only ask them to give as much as they did and they did. We can tidy up on some of the goals. In terms of the team and giving everything, they did that.

"Cunha is doing great, miles ahead off schedule. He wanted to be involved today but we needed to be steady. Pedro is more serious. When they come back they'll give some real attacking threat the boys already available."

Callum Matthews
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

Wolves and Gary O'Neil are hampered. There is simply no getting away from that at the moment.

The absence of Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha leaves a lack of quality and creativity in the final third and leaves their squad depth extremely exposed at this level.

O'Neil's side started strongly at Villa Park and if Rayan Ait-Nouri had converted his early chance the result may well have been different.

The opener halted the momentum that Wolves had built up and a comeback never looked likely.

Still, this has been an encouraging campaign for Wolves and a run of three defeats in four doesn't change that.

• Aston Villa have recorded as many Premier League wins this season as they managed last season (18) – only in 1992-93 (21) have they recorded more wins in a season.

• Wolves suffered their first Premier League defeat to Aston Villa since a 1-0 loss in December 2020, having gone unbeaten in their past six meetings, while it’s their first top-flight defeat at Villa Park since December 2003.

• Moussa Diaby (5 goals, 7 assists) became the fifth player to score 5+ goals and provide 5+ assists in his first Premier League season for Aston Villa after Savo Milosevic in 1995-96, Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore in 2020-21 and Danny Ings in 2021-22.

• Only Nottingham Forest (22) have lost more Premier League away games since the start of last season than Wolves (20), with Gary O’Neil’s side losing successive such matches on the road for the first time this calendar year.

• Leon Chiwome (18y 80d), who made his Premier League debut, became the second-youngest player to start for Wolves in a Premier League game after Anthony Forde in December 2011 (18y 41d).