O’Neil: ‘On having to come from behind, it was a good, solid away performance’

Gary O’Neil believes Wolves’ point at Nottingham Forest was a ‘solid away performance’ as his side fought from behind to get off the mark in the new Premier League campaign.

The head coach handed debuts to a pair of internationals, in the form of England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and Brazil midfielder Andre, and although the former conceded in the 10^th minute of his inaugural outing for the Old Gold, O’Neil was pleased with the way Johnstone and the team bounced back to earn their opening point of the season.

On drawing at the City Ground

“It’s a good point. It was one that you feel like you could win, but also there were the moments you feel like you could lose. But it was good and an improvement. It’s a tough place to come, but it was a good game, probably a fairly even game, probably a fair result.

“There were lots of good bits and some crazy bits in there, but I like the fact that we felt a threat throughout. I liked the way we stood up when it was tough. You have to manage those moments, you have to defend your goals and make big blocks.

“It was a good, solid away performance where we looked a threat, where we weathered some pressure, where we looked like we could go and score a winner. So, it was a good performance. I’m pleased.”

On having to come from behind

“It was a disaster to go 1-0 down with how we started the game. We were the better side by far, in complete control, creating good chances and moments, and then we concede a real soft one from the corner.

“But it was an incredible reaction. It was a great goal from JJ, a fantastic finish, and some other real dangerous moments that we weren’t quite able to make the most of. But it was important because as tough as our first two Premier League games were, we lost them both, so to go 1-0 down is a test at that moment.

“One-nil down away from home, there’s not too many times that you come back and get something from the game, so it shows where the group are, shows the belief they have, the quality that they have, and this Premier League season is going to be tough, and we’re going to need a lot of that bravery and togetherness.”

On coming through a busy week

“We probably should have gone 1-0 up with Rayan, going through one on one with the goalkeeper early and it was a big chance. But we were able to bounce back, which is good. Then we found some real good momentum in the game, I felt we had a really good spell.

“It was a good game and we obviously want to improve, and off the back of a busy week, tough week – a 6-2 defeat, cup game, the transfer window – it was an unsettling week for everybody around the group with a lot going on, so it was a good together performance and a point on the road in the Premier League is always good.”

On the penalty decisions which weren’t given

“I hate having to talk about this. Firstly, I said to Simon when he booked me that I apologise for the overreaction. It was not directed at anybody. It was just disappointment in a massive, massive moment for us, where we were away from home, 20/15 minutes to go. It’s a huge, huge moment.

“I feel like the human in me is allowed to show disappointment at that moment. It wasn’t directed at anyone, there was no abuse. But that’s the booking.

“The decisions, I think, could have both been penalties. If you look at where it hits Jorgen on the arm compared to where it hits Chris Wood on the arm, there is a difference.

“But maybe I’m splitting hairs, and maybe because I’ve got a Wolves top on, and Nuno has got a Nottingham Forest top on we will have different opinions on it.”