WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Wolverhampton players and staff were involved in chaotic post-match scenes for the second straight Premier League game as tensions soared at the relegation-threatened club.
After Wolves lost to Ipswich 2-1 on Saturday for a fourth defeat in a row, arguments broke out within the team ranks on the field.
Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri was shown a second yellow card after the final whistle and had to be ushered down the tunnel by teammate Craig Dawson, while Matheus Cunha — the Brazil striker who scored Wolves’ goal — was also involved in some pushing and shoving.
On Monday, Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina clashed with West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and then a member of his own coaching staff after Wolves’ 2-1 loss at the Olympic Stadium. Lemina was stripped of the captaincy during the week.
“The dressing room is a difficult place to be at this moment in time,” Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle said on Saturday. “We have to be honest with each other and figure out ourselves why we aren’t getting three points. Honest conversations need to happen.”
The pressure piled on Wolves manager Gary O’Neil after the loss, which left his team in next-to-last place and four points from safety.
“We are under a lot of pressure,” O’Neil said.
“I understand the players being emotional but we have to keep control better.”
O’Neil said he will “deal with” the Ait-Nouri incident internally.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton, left, with Ed Sheeran watch in the stands during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Ipswich Town's Jack Taylor celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the gameall, during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Mario Lemina reacts to a misplaced pass, during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, at Molineux Stadium, in Wolverhampton, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Ipswich Town's Sam Morsy, left and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha vie for the ball,during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, at Molineux Stadium, in Wolverhampton, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
