MX23RW : Friday, May 3 08:21:08| >> :120:8849:8849:
[monks data]
Bournemouth logo
Premier League | Gameweek 9
Oct 21, 2023 at 3pm UK
Vitality Stadium
Wolves logo

Bournemouth
1 - 2
Wolves

Solanke (17')
Zabarnyi (34'), Scott (45+2')
Cook (54')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Cunha (47'), Kalajdzic (88')
Cunha (42'), Kilman (45+3'), Hee-chan (54'), Traore (83'), Neto (89'), Sarabia (90+1')

Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O'Neil dismisses significance of return to Bournemouth

O'Neil dismisses significance of return to Bournemouth
© Reuters
Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil dismisses the significance of his return to Bournemouth for Saturday's Premier League fixture.

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil has insisted that Saturday's Premier League fixture at Bournemouth is 'zero about him'.

Soon after the start of last season, O'Neil was promoted from the backroom staff to take charge of the Cherries, initially on a caretaker basis.

However, such was the Englishman's impact in the Vitality Stadium dugout that he was handed the reins on a permanent basis, subsequently keeping Bournemouth in the top flight.

Despite delivering what was perceived to be a successful 2022-23, O'Neil was soon removed from his position, with the Bournemouth hierarchy choosing to appoint Andoni Iraola as his replacement.

At a time when the former Rayo Vallecano boss is still awaiting his first league victory as Bournemouth boss, O'Neil has since been chosen as Julen Lopetegui's successor at Molineux.

Bournemouth manager Gary O'Neil before the match on May 13, 2023© Reuters

While the 40-year-old cannot claim to have enjoyed an overly positive start at Wolves, collecting four points from games with Manchester City and Aston Villa before the international break has moved Wolves away from the relegation zone for the time being.

Ahead of Saturday's encounter on the South Coast, the return of O'Neil is naturally generating attention, but the man himself has admitted that he only wants to focus on earning more points to help Wolves' cause in the Premier League.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, as quoted by The Athletic, O'Neil said: "It's 0% about me and there's zero consideration for what it means to me.

"It's a game we want to take three points from and one we can compete against. There's nothing extra for me, the players are ready as they always have been for a tough Premier League game.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil on September 26, 2023© Reuters

"My feelings around the situation, one which was about four months ago is that's football. It's what happens. I'm in a great place in a great football club.

"I don't think it's ever my job to decide whether I've earned the right or not. People above make those decisions and it was deemed I hadn't, I'm comfortable with that. The Bournemouth phase is done and we move on."

In his time at Bournemouth, O'Neil accumulated 36 points from his 34 league games, the 15th best return in the division during that particular period.

Even with victory on Saturday, Bournemouth would still sit two points adrift of 14th-placed Wolves in the standings.

ID:526944:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4304:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Gary O'Neil

Click here for more stories about Wolverhampton Wanderers

Game History

How you voted: Bournemouth vs Wolves

Bournemouth
33.3%
Draw
20.0%
Wolverhampton Wanderers
46.7%
90
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola on August 29, 2023
Read Next:
Bournemouth 'relaxed about Iraola future despite winless start'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs341861067541360
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8Chelsea34149116559651
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!