Wolves boss Gary O’Neil: We must keep believing

But O’Neil – who was more upbeat about his team’s showing against the Seagulls – believes Wolves should be buoyed by their display.

He said: “Of course the players will take belief from performances. Belief from themselves and in what we’re asking them to do.

“That will be tested at times, no doubt. Progression will never be a straight line where we’re trending upwards the whole time, they’ll be bumps and tests. That’s the nature of the Premier League.

“The boys will be fine with understanding exactly what is expected of them, and how important it is that when there are bumps we reset and fully commit again.

“There’s no doubt, just faith in the group of what I think they’re capable of and how together I think we can be. I’m sure we’ll pick up enough results to have a successful season.

“It’s a process. We came in and put things in place instantly to learn about people.

“Everyone responds to different things and I’ve had loads of individual chats with the boys around where they are, what I expect and what they like and don’t like.

“There’s loads that goes into it. We speak before games and then reflect on them to see how we can deliver more.

“It’s about understanding what it’s like to be a modern-day player, which is one of the advantages of being a young-ish head coach.

“It doesn’t seem too long ago that I was still playing, so some of the things I felt will still be relevant.”

O’Neil has only been in the job for just under two weeks and has been working on implementing his methods on the group – something he hopes and believes is being received.

He added: “When I was playing I was just looking for a head coach that I felt could help me as an individual and us as a group.

“If the players feel that from me, and hopefully they do and will continue to, then you commit to what you’re being asked to do.

“Most of them have had long, successful careers already, so they don’t need me to teach them how to play the game. But I can help them with what I think suits this group and what I think suits the football club with how I think the game should be played.”