Premier League: Wolves and Southampton face tough relegation battle

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has dismissed any fears over his job ahead of their crucial match against relegation rivals Southampton.

The bottom two of the Premier League meet on Saturday when the Saints visit Molineux with the focus on both managers.

With just one win between them in 20 top-flight games this season, last-place Wolves have three points, with the Saints one point above them.

Wolves remain winless, and only five of the 18 teams previously winless after 10 Premier League games have survived.

Southampton come in off the back of their first win of the season, a 1-0 win over Everton, while there has been a slight shift in momentum at Wolves following draws with Brighton and Crystal Palace.

But the hosts are still searching for an elusive league victory (Ipswich are the only other winless team) and have won just once in their last 20 games, dating back to last March, although O’Neil has said that looking back at last season is “irrelevant.”

Their last clean sheet in the top flight was 23 games ago in February, and they have conceded a league-high 27 goals, but there is still a sense of perspective at the club given what O’Neil has faced.

The Wolves have played seven of the top eight in their first 10 games and have lost defender Yerson Mosquera to a season-ending knee injury, leaving them short after failing to replace Max Kilman in the summer.

Parting ways with O’Neil, popular within the club, would be a reluctant decision, but with November’s matches being against Crystal Palace, Southampton, Fulham and Bournemouth, Wolves need wins if they are to keep their place.

“My job and my future are the least of my worries,” the 41-year-old said Friday.

“I am not asking the club for any backing or support, I am very comfortable in this seat or on the side of the field in any situation that arises.

“I feel very comfortable with myself and with the work done here. In difficult situations you learn a lot about people. When there were negative noises [against Palace]I felt very comfortable and supported my own decisions.

“The harder it gets, the more ready I am to do it. Tomorrow is an incredible opportunity.” [Saturday] to show what you stand for and who you are when things go wrong.

That first victory could come against Martin’s Southampton, in a match in which there could be goals.

Excluding penalties, both the Wolves and the Saints are the two worst teams in the league at defending set pieces. The Wolves, who fired set-piece coach Jack Wilson in October, have conceded nine while Saturday’s visitors have conceded seven.

The hosts have been patient despite their position in the table and the Saints are similar, recognizing that they are not far from a breakthrough.

There has been a feeling at St Mary’s that they have been competitive, despite costly mistakes, and Martin is still on the verge of achieving his pre-season survival goal. After returning to the Premier League in May, there are still prospects at the club.

The Saints are three points from safety, and a second successive win could put them within striking distance of escaping the relegation zone, depending on Crystal Palace’s result at home to Fulham.

Martin said: “When you don’t win, it affects your mood and energy. There is no one in this room or outside of this room who wants to win more than me or the players. That’s impossible. I feel a great belief in what I do.” we do as a team.

“Whatever the outcome, I really believe that if the guys stick to the job with the intensity they played with last week, we’ll come out of this in a really good place.

“If we don’t, we’ll figure it out and keep working. In terms of that, a positive performance, a positive result, everyone can come to this last moment.”[international] rest feeling a little better about themselves.