Wolverhampton Wanderers

Latest updates

  1. 'We're not going to stop here' - Kilmanpublished at 11:25 6 February

    Matheus Cunha and Max KilmanImage source, Getty Images

    Wolves captain Max Kilman told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club they want to "finish the season as strong as possible" but haven't set a target.

    Asked whether he's surprised they're in contention for a European spot, Kilman said: "I'm not, but we knew how difficult it was going to be and there was so much confusion at the start of the season without a manager, then Gary [O'Neil] coming in and players leaving.

    "I knew the quality within the squad, so if we could get the cohesion and everyone working together then I knew we would be doing well. Of course, there's still time to go and we're in a good position - but we're not going to stop here. We want to make sure we finish the season as strong as possible."

    On the job O'Neil is doing at the club, Kilman added: "He's very focused on every game.

    "We celebrated at full-time with the crowd but then he was like: 'Let's get ready for Brentford.' He tries to be as grounded as he can because we have so many tough games. But he's been very good so far.

    "We've never been a team that sets targets and at the beginning of the season with that confusion, the aim was to just stay up. But we are performing very well. The manager says take it game by game - and that's working well for us."

    Listen to the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

  2. Ask Michael Brown - send in your questionspublished at 20:02 5 February

    Michael Brown
    BBC Sport pundit

    BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown graphic

    BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown will be answering your questions, giving his insight and opinion around your club.

    So what would you like to ask the former Premier League midfielder?

    How the season rates so far? Who has been your best player? What does the manager's future hold?

    Let us know what you want answered by sending in your questions here

    Have your say graphic
  3. Why aren't people giving O'Neil the plaudits he deserves?published at 14:39 5 February

    Phil McNulty banner

    BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

    Gary asked: Phil, why does the media have a total lack of respect for Gary O'Neil and Wolves. Whenever we beat one of the bigger clubs, we never seem to play well. It’s always that the other team plays badly, or they have injuries, or they need more time to rebuild their squads.

    One so-called football expert said it’s completely unacceptable for Chelsea to lose at home like that to Wolves. It's utterly unprofessional and disrespectful. Everyone tipped us for relegation so I think Gary is due a lot more plaudits than he's getting.

    Phil answered: I'm not sure I agree with you, actually. I think there's a lot of respect for the job Gary O’Neil is doing and I stated back in August that I was very surprised Bournemouth sacked him, although Andoni Iraola is doing a fine job after an uncertain start.

    I think there will always be a focus on the so-called (and I very much stress so-called) 'bigger' clubs, but I genuinely think there is a lot of respect in the media and beyond for O’Neil – as well as sympathy for some of the pretty rotten decisions Wolves have had this season.

    I can only speak for myself and I have great respect for the job he is doing and to win so convincingly at Chelsea is further evidence of it.

    I admit I tipped Wolves to be relegated but that was in the very brief period between Julen Lopetegui’s departure and O’Neil’s appointment. That’s my excuse anyway.

    No such worries now, he is doing an excellent job.

    Follow the full Q&A here

  4. Your thoughts on Chelsea v Wolvespublished at 13:02 5 February

    Your views banner

    We asked you for your thoughts on Sunday's Premier League match between Chelsea and Wolves.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Chelsea fans

    Will: Lack of size, physicality, aggression, intensity, leadership, team unity and defensive structure. Silva has been too old to play in a back four for several years. Pochettino too passive on many levels.

    Tim: When is Ben Chilwell going to learn he is a left-back and not a left winger? Three of the goals started from him being out of position, same as he was against Liverpool. Sterling is also poor. The whole team need some of Gallagher's effort - what he lacks in skill at least he makes up for in desire. That's all the fans want to see.

    Jack: First two Wolves goals seemed a bit lucky and there were a couple of penalty decisions that could have gone another way - but, at the end of the day, it still wasn’t a good performance and we didn’t deserve the three points.

    Wolves fans

    Mike: A fantastic performance. We played with a high press to put pressure on the Chelsea backline and midfield, and we were devastating on the break. The fitness level was unbelievable after the effort that went into the second half on Thursday night, and to come back from the heartbreak finish to that game was probably our best performance of the season.

    Tim: A great result but I really don't think there was much between the teams. We were more clinical in our finishing and that certainly hasn't always been the case this season. The best thing, though, apart from the three points, is seeing Cunha becoming an increasing goal threat.

    Martin: I’ve been a distant supporter of Wolves since the late 1950s and I’ve never been so excited as I am about this present team and manager.

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.
  5. Wolves 'are an exciting team to watch'published at 08:23 5 February

    Wolves players celebrate Matheus Cunha hat trickImage source, Getty Images

    Where’s it going so right for Wolves?

    "Their story is an interesting one because most people at the start of the season didn't expect much from them at all when Gary O'Neil came in," said Nedum Onuoha on the Football Daily podcast.

    "They've played well this season, they've had some downs, but they've had some really good wins and performances. They are an exciting team to watch.

    "The fans are really enjoying watching their team take it to sides."

    Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

  6. Chelsea 2-4 Wolves - analysispublished at 17:19 4 February

    Matheus CunhaImage source, Getty Images

    BBC Sport's Harry Poole

    A first league double over Chelsea since 1974-75. A first win at Stamford Bridge in any competition since 1979.

    Sunday' 4-2 demolition of the Blues was the latest marker of Wolves' undoubted progress under Gary O'Neil, and what an enjoyable one it was for the visitors.

    Hat-trick hero Matheus Cunha will grab the headlines for his outstanding contribution, while Pedro Neto once again starred, but it was a complete team performance which ensured Wolves brushed off the disappointment of Thursday's late heartbreak against Manchester United in emphatic fashion.

    The manner of the victory was one thing, but the consequences are another.

    O'Neil's side are up to 10th, one point and one place above Chelsea after 23 games - and with their sights now firmly fixed on chasing the clubs above them.

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.
  7. Chelsea 2-4 Wolves: What O'Neil said published at 16:52 4 February

    Gary O'Neil spoke to BBC Sport after Wolves' victory over Chelsea: "Tough place to come, [Chelsea have] an extremely talented squad, [it was] just a real belief in our group.

    "We tidied up bits that worked well against Manchester United and looked much better. It was a real good team performance and an enjoyable one for us, I can't lie.

    "I didn't really like us at 4-1, a little lack of focus but harsh criticism of course. It's a talented group. I really enjoyed it and the lads deserve massive credit.

    "We have comeback from setbacks a lot. We suffered heartbreak three days ago after working our socks off to get back against Manchester United. But it was straight to business.

    On Matheus Cunha, O'Neil added: "He's a fantastic guy. Always had quality, we know he has that. He is so humble and hard-working, all I have worked on him with is his understanding of situations. A Premier League hat-trick speaks volumes of the improvements he's made.

    "A big win of course, but back down to earth very quickly with Brentford next. We need to make sure the boys are ready to go again."

  8. Chelsea 2-4 Wolves: Key statspublished at 16:36 4 February

    • Chelsea suffered their 10th Premier League defeat of the season, with today their 23rd game of the campaign. Only in the 1993-94 season (after 18 games) have they reached 10 defeats in fewer games.

    • Wolves registered their first top-flight away win against Chelsea since March 1979 (2-1), while it’s the first time they’ve completed a league double over the Blues since 1974-75.

    • This was the first time Chelsea had opened the scoring but gone in behind at half time of a Premier League home game since April 2021 (a 2-5 defeat against West Brom). Overall, it was only the second time the Blues have been behind at the break in the Premier League game this season (vs. Liverpool and Wolves) – the fewest of any team.

    • Wolves’ Matheus Cunha became only the fourth visiting player to score a Premier League hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, after Kanu for Arsenal in 1999, Robin van Persie for Arsenal in 2011, and Sergio Aguero for Man City in 2016.

    • Chelsea defender Thiago Silva (39y 135d) became the oldest player to score a goal in the Premier League since Dean Windass for Hull City in November 2008 (39y 235d v Portsmouth).

  9. Full-time: Chelsea 2-4 Wolvespublished at 16:05 4 February

    Have your say banner

    Matheus Cunha scored a hat-trick as Wolves came from behind to stun Chelsea and replace the Blues in the top half of the Premier League table.

    Cole Palmer gave Mauricio Pochettino's hosts a 19th-minute lead when he calmly slotted past Jose Sa following Moises Caicedo's defence-splitting pass.

    But Wolves levelled less than three minutes later when Cunha's shot took a significant deflection off Thiago Silva and wrong-footed Djordje Petrovic.

    The turnaround was complete shortly before the break, courtesy of another deflected shot, as Rayan Ait-Nouri met Pedro Neto's cutback and sent the ball in off Axel Disasi.

    The home supporters greeted the half-time whistle with boos but Chelsea were unable to produce a fightback of their own, instead falling two goals behind when the electric Neto beat Silva for pace and picked out Cunha for his second.

    The Brazilian then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after being brought down by Malo Gusto, sending Petrovic the wrong way with eight minutes remaining to put the result beyond doubt before Silva headed in a late consolation.

    Wolves' thoroughly deserved victory moved Gary O'Neil's side up to 10th, one point and one place above Chelsea after 23 games.

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

    Chelsea 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

  10. Sutton's predictions: Chelsea v Wolvespublished at 11:11 4 February

    Sutton's predictions graphic with Ed Leigh

    BBC pundit Chris Sutton is taking on Ski Sunday presenter Ed Leigh for this weekend's Premier League predictions.

    Sutton's prediction: 1-1

    Chelsea simply have to respond after their defeat by Liverpool on Wednesday. I was at Anfield for BBC Radio 5 Live and they were so poor and a long way off Jurgen Klopp's side.

    With the money Chelsea have spent, they need to have a much better return than that and I think qualifying for Europe in some shape or form is probably their target from here.

    Mauricio Pochettino needs to deliver that, I think, but I am still not sure about them and whether they are up to it.

    I base these predictions on what I see, and I was painting a positive picture about Chelsea after the little run they went on before the Liverpool game. But Anfield was a reminder of where they are at and, as well as their defensive issues, they are not a free-scoring, nor free-flowing side.

    Wolves lost to Manchester United on Thursday to end their unbeaten run but we know they will be well organised and carry a threat - whereas Chelsea are still a bitty team, and we don't know what we will get from them from one week to the next.

    Ed's prediction: 0-1

    It seems weird this fixture is a mid-table scrap but that is where Chelsea are at the moment, and we saw against Liverpool they have a lot of defensive flaws. I think Wolves will cause them problems and I am going to go for an upset here, partly because Pedro Neto has been one of my favourite players to watch this season so I'd like to see him make a menace of himself.

    Read the full predictions here

  11. No 'toys out of pram' from O'Neil over failure to sign strikerpublished at 13:27 2 February

    Gary O'Neil smiles on the touchlineImage source, PA Media

    Wolves manager Gary O'Neil says any complaints about Wanderers' failure to sign a recognised striker in the January transfer window will not benefit anyone at the club and he is committed to getting the most from the squad currently at his disposal.

    Fabio Silva and Sasa Kalajdzic were allowed to leave on loan and, while young winger Noha Lemina arrived from Paris St-Germain, O'Neil has said he is unlikely to make an immediate impact at first-team level.

    Chelsea's Armando Broja was a reported target, but he eventually moved on loan to Fulham on deadline day.

    "We couldn't afford to go to where other clubs were able to go to without putting ourselves at risk," said O'Neil. "It's the position the club told me they were in when they spoke to me.

    "I was hopeful that letting a couple go early and clearing some wages would give us some room to do something. It turns out wages wouldn't have been a problem. We could have brought people in on wages but some of the fees, whether it's obligations or loan fees, penalties for people not playing - things like that proved too much of a hurdle for us and we couldn't get anything done.

    "Of course we could have thrown our toys out of the pram, thrown a strop and demanded things, but all of that would have been jeopardising the good of the club and where we're trying to go.

    "Huge respect for this club and what needs to be done. I'm delighted with the group again. We just need to keep pushing and find a way to maximise what we’ve got."

    After a pulsating 4-3 loss at home to Manchester United on Thursday, 11th-placed Wolves return to Premier League action at Chelsea on Sunday.

    "The amount of effort that went into the Manchester United game and the amount of work the boys put in will take some recovering from," O'Neil said.

    "It's important we get the lads recovered as quickly as possible and then going to Stamford Bridge will be a tough test."

  12. Chelsea v Wolves: Pick of the statspublished at 11:54 2 February

    • Chelsea are unbeaten in their past 10 home league games against Wolves (W6 D4), since a 2-1 loss in March 1979.

    • Following their 2-1 win at Molineux on 24 December, Wolves are looking to complete a league double over Chelsea for the first time since 1974-75.

    • Wolves beat Brentford 4-1 in their most recent Premier League game in London, ending a 14-game winless run in the capital (D3 L11). They last won consecutive away league games against London sides in January/February 2022, the first one of which was at Brentford.

    • Chelsea have won their past four Premier League home games, as many as they had in their previous 22 at Stamford Bridge (D9 L9). They last won more consecutively at home between February and July 2020 (six).

    • Wolves have kept just two clean sheets in their past 27 Premier League away games, beating Everton 1-0 in August and drawing 0-0 at Brighton in their last away match. They not recorded consecutive shutouts on the road since January 2022, the first of which was at Brighton.

    • Chelsea have scored a penalty in five of their past seven Premier League home games, with the exceptions being a 2-0 loss to Brentford and a 2-0 win over Sheffield United.

    Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra match commentary of Chelsea v Wolves at 14:00 GMT on Sunday

    Listen on BBC Sounds banner
  13. 'We're closer to a European spot than relegation'published at 10:01 2 February

    Gary O'NeilImage source, Getty Images

    Wolves fan Ryan Leister says Gary O'Neil's side "showed character and heart" as their five-game unbeaten run came to an end against Manchester United.

    "I can't deny that in the first half the game should have been over but O'Neil has really instilled some belief because this team just doesn't stop," Leister told BBC Radio 5 Live.

    "Yes, I'm disappointed to concede a losing goal in that fashion but the team showed character and heart, and it's our first loss of the year. I am gutted but I am really proud of them.

    "We lost our manager a few days before the season and most people would have taken finishing 17th, but now we're closer to a European spot than relegation.

    "It's a great season and O'Neil deserves a lot of credit for what he has done."

    Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

  14. Your views on Wolves v Man Utdpublished at 08:40 2 February

    Your views banner

    We asked you for your thoughts on Thursday's Premier League match between Wolves and Manchester United.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Wolves fans

    Ian: They were all over us in the first half. Don't know what O'Neil said in the dressing room at half-time, but whatever it was, they came out fighting and nearly got a draw.

    Kath: We play some really nice stuff and I’m so proud of the progression under O’Neil. A loss but an admirable defeat. It hurts but the bigger picture is very positive.

    Mike: Absolute rubbish in the first half. Excellent second-half performance but I can’t believe we let them score straight after we had scored twice.

    Louis: Why was Casemiro not shown a card for a clear and obvious tackle that led to a penalty? Surely that should have been a second yellow? Also, what happened to the rule about players not surrounding a referee during a stoppage of play unless it's the team captains? Has that gone out the door? I saw at least seven Manchester United players around the ref in his ear.

    Man Utd fans

    Bobby: Some great individual performances in Mainoo, Garnacho, Rashford and Shaw but I have some serious worries about Erik ten Hag's tactics. Bringing off players like Rashford and Garnacho for Antony and Maguire when Wolves were on the up just invited all the pressure. Avoidable! Much-improved performance but starting to question the manager more after every game.

    Jason: I thought we were in control until the farcical decision from the referee and VAR officials. How can you look at that on a repeat and think that it is a penalty? Ludicrous. I’m happy we come away with the three points but again, overshadowed by inconsistency with VAR.

    John: Antony should never play for United again. He is awful. I don’t understand why Amad is not getting a chance. A decent United performance but they need to kill teams off and shut up shop. Progress and good character to win it, but still a lot to work on.

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.
  15. Hodge completes QPR loan movepublished at 23:58 1 February

    Joe Hodge of Wolverhampton Wanderers warms up ahead of the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton FC Image source, Getty Images

    Wolves defensive midfielder Joe Hodge has completed a loan move to Championship side QPR until the end of the season.

    He returned from injury this autumn and, after helping Wolves into the FA Cup fourth round against Brentford, he now heads out on loan in the search of regular game time.

    The 21-year-old was integrated into the Wolves first team last season, making 11 appearances with six of those coming in the Premier League.