Gary O'Neil claimed Everton didn't have to do "anything complicated" to beat his Wolverhampton Wanderers side 4-0 at Goodison Park
Sport
Comment
Gary O'Neil (right) on the touchline with Sean Dyche (left) during Everton's 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park
Gary O'Neil (right) on the touchline with Sean Dyche (left) during Everton's 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park
(Image: Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Under-fire Gary O’Neil insisted Everton didn’t have to do “anything complicated” to thrash Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 as he laid into his own team’s “basic” errors.
The Blues secured what was only their second home win in the Premier League in Goodison Park’s historic final season in emphatic fashion with first half strikes from Ashley Young and Orel Mangala and then a brace of own goals from Craig Dawson after the break. O’Neil complained: “Everton didn’t do anything complicated as you all saw, it was all direct stuff, real low risk. A group of players winning duels, winning second balls, and we have to find a way to be able to compete with stuff like that.”
The former Liverpool youth team coach added: “It was basic stuff. We can’t even get the wall in the right place.
READ MORE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin cruel luck continues as Everton get future midfield hintREAD MORE: Sean Dyche explains Everton changes and message to players before Wolves win
“We weren’t able to cope with Everton’s physicality, long balls, balls into the box, we were just unable to cope. There’s an awful lot of work to be done to give the group a better chance in games coming forward to try and give them a platform to have a chance.
“As I’ve said a million times, the other stuff is irrelevant because we’re giving away so many goals from situations that are fairly basic. Bournemouth are a pressing team, and we can’t cope with that; Everton are a physical team, and we can’t cope with that, so there’s an awful lot that we need to get into to try and give this team more of a chance on a consistent basis.
“Of course, we’ve found ways in recent ways to be competitive, in the four games we managed not to lose but as we are, sat here, it’s a real tough blow for myself, the group and the supporters who deserve a big mention for the travel that they do and the support that they’ve given me since I’ve been here. I understand all of their criticism of myself, and I am happy to take full responsibility for my part in where the team is at the moment.”
The 41-year-old continued: “We couldn’t cope with their physicality. They had people in the right spots and we were unable to compete in the duels.
“The corner straight after half-time is only two yards out, they get the contact to give Everton the first goal when they’re struggling for confidence and scoring, so to be able to kick it straight into the goal, around the wall, well yeah, you don’t see that too often. Similar to the goals against Bournemouth, you don’t see those too often either.
“It’s real tough, but the focus has to turn quickly to try and give the team the best chance on Monday. We get back to work straight away, instantly, as soon as I’ve finished this press conference, to being able to fight again on Monday, because that’s where I need to get to with the group.
“Forever reason, at this moment, we cannot get this group to compete consistently against that sort of test. We have to find a way to give the group a better chance at West Ham on Monday.”
HUGE RESULT: Chris Beesley's video verdict
SAFE TO WATCH EVERTON AGAIN: Joe Thomas' video verdict
O’Neil was subject to several brutal jibes from Wolves’ own travelling fans as they chanted: “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” “You don’t know what you’re doing,” and “Gary O’Neil, your football is s***.” However, he still went across the Goodison Park pitch to the far side of the ground to salute the supporters from the West Midlands in the away section of the Bullens Road. He said: “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every single one of the Wolves fanbase because they’ve given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club. In a tough moment, we managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season, away at Chelsea; away at Tottenham; away at our rivals, West Brom; with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation, we were nowhere near it, ever.
Article continues below
“We managed to enjoy all of that together. So, now that it’s tough, I’m happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism that they want to throw at me, because I accept responsibility for all of my part in that.
“There are a lot of parts that have led to where we are at this moment, but for my part in that I am happy to accept full responsibility. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change what I feel about them and what they’ve given me over the last 15 months.”