And, given this ebb and flow of emotion, every so often, even the coolest heads boil over.
Image source, Getty Images
Was this enough to 'restore faith' in O'Neil?published at 17:18 21 October
17:18 21 October
Dazzling Dave Fan writer
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Although worthy of a point against Manchester City, a last-minute goal, mired in controversy, was just another instance of Wolves facing poor officiating. Moments before City’s winner, Goncalo Guedes was closing in on goal but shoved with two hands from behind - a clear foul. Yet Chris Kavanagh ignored it, and City launched the attack that led to their win.
It feels like officials are punishing Wolves for their stance on VAR while all fans are asking for is fair and consistent refereeing.
However, this is all a distraction from the real problems at Wolves. In many respects, the performance highlighted how much more robust they become when we switch back to a five-man defence.
Wolves' defensive weaknesses have been glaring and opponents have taken full advantage. A back four at Molineux has troubled many managers and, despite its potential benefits, it has always failed because Wolves lack the right players for this system.
Instead, they have two fantastic wing-backs in Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri. Many fans felt that returning to the reliable back five would strengthen the unit and it also played more to their strengths.
In the centre, positioned between Toti Gomes and Santiago Bueno, Craig Dawson displayed authority and true leadership. For a second time, he marked Erling Haaland out of the game. The Norway striker did not even get a sniff at goal and for once, the Norwegian name on the scoresheet was not Erling but Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Considering the game was always going to be a defensive slog, it is hard to determine if this is enough to restore faith in O’Neil or if he has addressed our current tactical issues.
We will have to wait and see, but it was a step in the right direction.
Mike: Much better performance, we need to produce that level every game. We were robbed at the end because whether or not there was an offside the corner should not have been given. There was a clear foul on the Wolves player.
Matthew: Defensively, we were solid. Bueno and Dawson kept Haaland quiet, and Semedo had a really good game. However, it's clear that we have forgotten how to win games.
Malcolm: Yet another VAR directive going against Wolves. This one costing us a valuable point. Changing to a 3-5-2 set up worked and should be continued with in forthcoming games. Jose Sa made three great saves and kept us in the game until the 95th minute. I believe Gary O’Neil will prevent us being relegated and should be supported to turn things around soon.
Man City fans
Jeff: I was at the game and we lacked creativity in central midfield. Pep preferred to go down both flanks but Savinho and Doku were poor. It didn’t improve much when Foden and a Grealish were brought on, but the subs allowed us to put Wolves under pressure which eventually resulted in Stone’s winner.
Stella: City were slightly off it today, but ground out a result. Defensively we don’t look safe and quick to transition teams can exploit us too easily. That said, great display by Gvardiol and thought we just about deserved to win. The winning goal debate is vacuous: Arsenal have been scoring plenty with backing in tactics yet no complaints for theirs?
Mark: City looked aimless at times, devoid of their usual leader Rodri. Passing was crisp but looked laboured at times. There also didn’t seem to be many smiles on the City faces during the game, until that final game changer from John Stones. City need to improve quickly to keep the title within their grasp. De Bruyne, Rodri and Bobb were visibly missed!
There 'could be' unconscious bias towards bigger teams - O'Neilpublished at 09:50 21 October
09:50 21 October
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil says there "could be" an unconscious bias towards the bigger teams in the Premier League when it comes to refereeing decisions.
John Stones scored a controversial late winner for Manchester City at Molineux on Sunday which was given via VAR after initially being ruled out for offside against Bernardo Silva.
"I can categorically tell you they don’t mean to," said O'Neil when asked about potential bias after the match.
"They are 100 per cent honest. I just know from a human point of view it’s tough.
"I feel different playing Manchester City than someone else in the Carabao Cup first round. I’m sure they feel it, they are human. I don’t know if I’m miles off, it just feels there could be."
Silva was initially ruled offside from Stones' header after standing in front of Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa from the last minute corner. However, referee Chris Kavanagh was summoned to the pitch side monitor and reversed his decision after determining the Portugal international was not interfering with play.
"If I had to upset someone in the street and there’s a big and little guy in the street, I’m upsetting the little guy," O'Neil added.
"There is something in there and they don’t do it on purpose and are doing the best job they can.
"Maybe there’s something which just edges it in that direction when it’s really tight."
'Wolves can take a lot of heart'published at 09:11 21 October
09:11 21 October
Image source, Getty Images
Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker hopes Wolves will offer the same "desire" they showed against Manchester City going forward.
Wolves remain bottom of the league with one point from eight games, but their display against the champions did not reflect their league positioning.
"It was a great performance by Wolves but they now need to go into the next couple of games with the same application and desire they showed against City," said Reo-Coker on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast.
Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic added: "A couple of wins over the last 20 games does start to become a mental thing.
"When you are thinking about when you are going to get that win, it does put extra pressure on the team. But they can take a lot of heart from that performance."
O'Neil learns from experience as cool heads neededpublished at 17:54 20 October
17:54 20 October
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Gary O'Neil has clearly learned from experience.
Having been given a touchline ban and £8,000 fine after his reaction to Max Kilman's disallowed goal against West Ham last season, there was never going to be a repeat.
It was similar to John Stones' winner for Manchester City on Sunday but O'Neil was stoic in the face of defeat. He questioned if there was unconscious bias which favoured bigger sides but was careful enough not to step over the line and accuse officials of it.
The head coach was the one pulling Pablo Sarabia - who was eventually booked in the chaos following the goal - back from confronting the assistant referee in protest.
With Wolves still searching for a win they need a cool head to lead them and O'Neil has not lose his sense of responsibility.
The side slipped back to the bottom of the table but in the relegation battle those with clear thoughts and processes are the ones who are likely to succeed.
It is eight winless games but O'Neil has shown enough leadership and clarity of thought to prove Wolves can survive.
'A return to more like what we need to be'published at 16:54 20 October
16:54 20 October
Image source, Getty Images
Gary O'Neil spoke to BBC Sport after Wolves' defeat to Manchester City: "The Performance was excellent, I thought the lads gave absolutely everything. We kept finding the answers and we concede a controversial goal late on. The things that could go against us today definitely did but we have to take positives and we have to get ready for next weekend against Brighton.
"It's tough defending for so long, it is so hard to get out. They were working their socks off, they gave everything, they showed what they are which is all I asked. We need to make sure it looks like that more often.
"[The players are] down as you would expect. For all the hard work that has gone into that, to then leave with hard luck stories feels like a big blow of course. I was very critical of them at Brentford. Today was a return to more like what we need to be.
"It has been such a cruel run of fixtures. We need to keep standing up. We are where we are and we need to make sure we keep producing the best of ourselves.
"I knew Bernardo Silva was close to the goalkeeper. Against West Ham we were given the reason of close proximity. Silva is less than a yard away and I think that same reasoning should be applied to this one, but it wasn't. I was calm about it, unfortunately there is nothing we can do."
Supporters' faith will be tested but O'Neil believes it is holdingpublished at 12:26 20 October
12:26 20 October
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Boss Gary O'Neil feels Wolves fans still understand why they have struggled.
Sunday's visit of Manchester City is likely to test that belief and Wolves could slip back to the bottom of the Premier League.
They have been handed a nightmare fixture list and next weekend's trip to Brighton will mean they have faced seven of the top eight in their opening nine games.
O'Neil has been at pains to reinforce the context of the season and Wolves' struggles but Friday's press conference was arguably the first time he has fielded several questions about the future.
He remains confident Wolves will stay up - and said so - but that belief and unity which has has fostered since arriving last August will be stretched soon enough.
“There will be people who understand and there will be people who don’t understand and I’m sure are desperate for me to leave," he said.
“I haven’t bumped into any yet but I’m sure they’re out there in their hundreds and thousands.
“That’s life. I guarantee that while I’m here the club will get everything I’ve got to help the team.
“I’m not worried about what then happens if it doesn’t work out – that’s up to people above.
“I will take care of my bit. The players are still absolutely desperate to give everything for the fans and the club and will continue to do so.
“We will keep fighting and when we do turn it around – because we will – it will be a really nice feeling to know we’ve had to dig really deep and gone through a tough moment and managed to come out the other end.
“You will have known who was with you in those tough moments and who wasn’t."
Sutton's predictions: Wolves v Man Citypublished at 11:31 20 October
11:31 20 October
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week eight, he takes on legendary boxing manager Kellie Maloney.
Sutton's prediction: 1-6
Wolves are bottom of the table with one point from their seven games so the last thing Gary O'Neil needs is to take on the champions.
O'Neil was pretty scathing about his players' defending after they got walloped 5-3 by Brentford last time out, and I think they might concede a few more goals here.
Manchester City huffed and puffed before putting away Fulham and they always seem to ship a goal these days, but they have enough quality to win this very comfortably even if they can no longer keep a clean sheet.
Erling Haaland has gone two league games without scoring, which is a long time for him, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't get a couple here.
Wolves won this game last season but, a year on, they are not the same side and I am worried about the number of times they could be carved open.
Kellie's prediction: With Haaland up front, you always have to back City. 0-3
Who has the easiest and hardest next four games?published at 17:25 18 October
17:25 18 October
Image source, Opta
With the October international break now firmly in the rearview mirror, Opta Analyst, external have turned their attention to the next four Premier League fixtures.
Here, they have given each team a ranking between 80 and 100 and then found the average to determine to difficulty of the schedule.
Liverpool's opening seven matches were ranked the easiest in the league, but their upcoming four are the fourth-toughest in the division. They will face Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton, with an average opponent strength of 91.4 before the next international break.
Fellow early pacesetters Arsenal also have challenging fixtures, playing Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea with an average rating of 90.7, while Manchester City's next four against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Brighton are ranked the third-easiest by Opta.
Chelsea and Brighton have the second-hardest and third-hardest runs respectively, a real test given the promising starts for their new managers Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler.
At the other end of the table, Leicester - who recently secured their first win of the season against Bournemouth - have a chance to build with the easiest run in the division. They face Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Manchester United.
Fellow promoted side Ipswich will hope to pick up their first win of the season during a run of games that is ranked the fifth-easiest.
The answerpublished at 17:12 18 October
17:12 18 October
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Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Wolves player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.
The correct answer was Adama Traore.
O'Neil 'seemed to be revelling' in growing pressurepublished at 15:37 18 October
15:37 18 October
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
If anything, Gary O'Neil seemed to be revelling in the growing pressure at his pre-match news conference, even though he realises his side cannot continue to rely on excuses and the clock is ticking to find results.
Bottom of the Premier League with one point from their opening seven games, Wolves host Manchester City on Sunday before travelling to Brighton next week.
"I understand one point from seven isn't good enough and we need to prove we are better than that," said O'Neil. "That tipping point will come soon.
"We can't sit here forever and say we've had tough games and lost a couple of important players in the summer.
"Now what? Come on then, let's go."
He was again keen to emphasise the context of Wolves' start, wanting to shoulder the blame for his players, regardless of individual mistakes, given they are trying to carry out his plan.After their next two games, Wolves will have faced all of the current top seven in their opening nine matches.
Once that is taken into consideration - and the loss of Max Kilman to West Ham and Pedro Neto's departure to Chelsea - maybe Wolves' situation can be better understood.
Regardless, they need to start winning to survive and with Crystal Palace, Southampton and Bournemouth all visiting Molineux next month, that is likely to be the "tipping point" in their search for wins that O'Neil has described.
O'Neil on Hwang's fitness, 'uniting the fans' and having '100% faith'published at 14:10 18 October
14:10 18 October
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Manchester City (14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Forward Hwang Hee-Chan will be out for "a couple to a few weeks" with an ankle injury sustained playing for South Korea. The rest of O'Neil's squad is "the same as before the international break".
On his side's start to the season: "We sit here seven games in with one point. If you don't look into the depths of how and why it looks like a disaster. But, if you do take the time to look into the situation and the fixtures you will easily see there is enough there to have a real clear view we can turn this around."
He is confident results will improve soon: "I have 100% faith in myself and the playing group to show everyone we can compete at the level. Really confident and really comfortable I can help the group in this moment and turn things around."
On beating City last season and the challenge on Sunday: "The key was discipline, counter-attacking and fight. It's a tough game I'm looking forward to. We have to perform in a way to unite the fans."
O'Neil added that from their meeting last season Wolves "miss Pedro Neto's counter-attacking threat" after the winger joined Chelsea in the summer.
O'Neil believes his side must be better at controlling emotions: "The Brentford game was a shock. If we're not at it, it's not just the top teams that will beat you. It can't happen. We conceded some goals that were almost unexplainable."
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