Gary O’Neil has called for patience from Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters after his side lost 3-2 to Ipswich Town in the EFL Cup third round.
On the back of collecting just four points from six matches in the Premier League, O’Neil ideally required a win from Tuesday night’s fixture at Portman Road.
At one point, Wolves appeared on course to cruise to victory over the Championship high-flyers after opening a 2-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes.
However, the West Midlands outfit capitulated from that moment, Ipswich getting back on level terms before the break and ultimately going on to deservedly reach the last 16.
O’Neil has now lost five of his eight matches in all competitions, while 10 goals have been conceded in Wolves’ last four fixtures.
Since impressing during the first half against Liverpool on September 16, Wolves have put together five successive halves of football that have either been uninspiring or highlighted their vulnerability in defence.
Although O’Neil has acknowledged that the performance against the Tractor Boys, after making 10 changes, was not good enough, the Englishman claims that “a lot of things need fixing” behind the scenes.
Speaking to reporters, as quoted by the Express & Star, O’Neil said: “We are six weeks in, with a game every five or six days, to a process. There is no magic wand.
“I can guarantee you, when I arrived the place was not running perfectly and ready to go into a Premier League season. There are a lot of things that need fixing. I sit here and answer the questions and I’m willing to take responsibility, but the facts are you need some time to put things in place.
“That did not look like a team that I’ve worked with for very long, which it isn’t.”
O’Neil later added: “When I arrived, the culture of the club needed a shift. Some of it needed to move into more togetherness and the way they went about things was very individual-focused and there wasn’t a lot of structure to what they did.
“There’s a big list of things that need fixing. I understand it’s my responsibility.”
Wolves are next in action when they play host to Premier League leaders and defending champions Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.
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