Dave Edwards: Wolves must learn to do basics a whole lot better

The clash against Brentford was always going to be a pressure game because of the start to the season Wolves have had.

It would have been a game they have been eyeing up as a potential fixture where they can get points for quite a number of weeks now with the run of games they have had.

I don’t think anyone really saw this result coming because their performances had been pretty good.

But there was a lot of pressure on that game against Brentford and unfortunately, the players just did not handle that pressure.

You know Brentford are going to start fast as they have done all season. It was an old-school match, box-to-box with loads going on and Wolves lacked any sort of control, which played into Brentford’s hands.

When you concede goals in the way they did then you are not going to win games of football in the Premier League the quality is just too much.

The defending has been where the problem has been. If you are scoring three goals away from home the strikers have done their job but it does not paint the full picture as they were never really in the game before Brentford wrestled control back.

I do feel a little bit for Gary O’Neil as I know he is coming in for a lot of criticism at the moment.

Him coming out in the press conference after the game and saying it is the worst performance he has been involved in as a manager, and taking the blame for everything – that is what good managers do.

I remember Mick McCarthy when we were struggling at Wolves taking the blame, but in-house he would be letting people know who needs to be pulling their weight a bit more, who is letting the team down and who needs to be performing better.

I imagine O’Neil is having those same conversations in that dressing room because as much as he says it is his fault, he sets up the team, but once they cross the white line, he cannot do anything to stop the way they started that game, which was disastrous.

I do feel for him in that respect. It is really interesting to see where they go from here with Man City next. The international break has come at a good time.

I always used to find it was good to get away when you are on a run like this. Going and playing for Wales you almost shook off all the baggage that comes with it. You come back a bit more refreshed.

Man City have obviously got a lot of international players, and that will no doubt take it out of them, and it will mean they will not get their normal preparation in.

O’Neil said he might have to move to a three at the back, and I think if he does change, then it will be a reluctant one.

They have worked so hard in the off-season trying to get his team in a position so they can win games of football. The system change was not necessarily to improve results against the bigger team like they have been playing. When you look at last season, it was games against Luton, Crystal Palace both games, Sheffield United, Fulham, West Ham both games, Brentford, Burnley and Bournemouth where they dropped points.

It feels like now, though, something has got to give.