Gary O’Neil has addressed Nottingham Forest’s recent draw against Wolves, asserting that the team’s defensive lapses, rather than officiating decisions, were the primary cause for their frustration.
The Reds’ manager, Steve Cooper, expressed dissatisfaction, contending that Forest should have been granted a throw-in in the build-up to Matheus Cunha’s goal, contributing to the team’s 1-1 draw at Molineux and extending their streak of just one win in their last 12 matches.
In response to queries about his sympathy for Cooper’s grievances, O’Neil acknowledged some empathy but emphasized the inadequacies in Forest’s defense during the critical play. Speaking with Sky Sports, O’Neil commented on the contentious throw-in decision, asserting, “Yes, definitely not our throw-in.
Yeah, the throw-in doesn’t cause a goal, and there’s a lot that happens after that.” He admitted that while there might have been several unfavorable decisions in the game, the officials erred in awarding the throw-in to Wolves.
O’Neil also urged a focus on improving defensive strategies, stating, “But if he wants to watch some of the decisions that have gone against us this year in sort of more key areas then it’s just a throw-in, so yeah, they should defend the throw-in better.”
Reflecting on the overall match, O’Neil characterized it as challenging, especially after conceding an early goal to a defensively entrenched Wolves side keen on counter-attacks. Despite a commendable response in the first half, culminating in a well-executed goal, Forest struggled to maintain momentum in the second half.
O’Neil expressed disappointment at the team’s inability to penetrate Wolves’ back five effectively, leaving him and others yearning for a more formidable offensive display that never materialized.
Leave a Reply