Wolves head into their relegation six-pointer against Ipswich Town with Gary O’Neil still in charge at Molineux.
O’Neil was on the verge of being axed heading into their clash at West Ham on Monday night, yet the 41-year-old remains in the dugout.
Wolves are prepared to give O’Neil the Ipswich game and the foreseeable future, despite the Old Gold losing their last three games in the Premier League.
It’s a decision that could be detrimental to their survival hopes, as the Englishman has collected just two wins since securing victory over Luton Town in April.
While continuing to back him will anger most supporters, it perhaps shows Wolves are struggling to find O’Neil’s replacement, with Fosun’s transfer model to blame for their decline.
The Wanderers face Ipswich Town on Saturday, the team level on points with them in the table, and now the officials have been named for the clash.
Gary O'Neil the head coach / manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers receives a yellow card from Official Premier League Referee, Simon Hooper during th...
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Simon Hooper named as the referee for Wolves vs Ipswich
Wolves have experienced several refereeing and VAR errors in recent seasons, none more so last time out against the Hammers, as West Ham’s first goal should have been ruled out.
When a team is at the bottom, though, everything seems to go against them and they’ll be hoping that isn’t the case this weekend.
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Simon Hooper has been named the referee for Wolves relegation showdown at home to the Tractor Boys with Darren England on VAR.
The 42-year-old has taken charge of 25 Wolves matches across his career, the fourth-highest amount of any team, with the Old Gold grabbing 11 wins, four draws and 10 defeats.
Hooper has also dished out 34 yellow cards, awarded two penalties, and, surprisingly, no red cards while refereeing Wolves matches.
That being said, he has made some blatant errors, including last season, where O’Neil was left stunned by one decision he made.
Hooper failed to award Sasa Kalajdzic penalty vs Man United
In O’Neil’s first Premier League game in charge of Wolves, he was on the receiving end of a terrible error made by the referee.
Wolves were beaten 1-0 by Man United but the game could have taken a different narrative had Sasa Kalajdzic rightfully been awarded a penalty.
United goalkeeper Andre Onana steamrolled into Kaladjzic inside the penalty box however, no spot kick was awarded, and O’Neil was unsurprisingly left feeling ‘livid’.
“I was livid that they didn’t think it was a clear and obvious error. I’ve just spoken to Jon Moss, fair play to him,” the Wolves manager said via Manchester Evening News.
“He has apologised and said it was a blatant penalty and should have been given.”
An apology after the game from Hooper says it all, who was left off the refereeing rota for the following round of fixtures.
This weekend, Wolves can ill-afford to be on the wrong end of another terrible decision as they aim to secure a priceless three points.
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