'It never appeared the players given up on O'Neil'

"I understand the crowd," said Wolves captain Mario Lemina on Saturday. "But we know our manager."

Results and the calendar appeared to be conspiring against Gary O'Neil. Failure to win the final game before the November break - the last until the spring - would have stress-tested Wolves' resolve to keep him, perhaps to breaking point.

We will never know now, or not for a few weeks at least.

The conditions for change were clear, but one factor so common to these situations was missing. Sometimes with struggling teams, suspicions that players have lost faith in the coach seem too obvious to ignore. Not always a lack of effort, but a sensed lack of conviction, and often there is one game when everything unravels.

It has not happened. There have been plenty of faults to spot - especially defensively - but it has never appeared that the players have given up on their work, or on O'Neil. It has always felt as if they care.

There has been despair and emotion from the players, but even at the darkest stage of the past few months, when they were being taken apart at Brentford, Wolves still kept pushing enough to score the last goal of the game. They have shown the will, but not found the means.

Not until Saturday, anyway.

The early goal helped enormously, but soon afterwards, it was hard to claim that it had settled the nerves. After half-time, though, they adjusted and seemed settled. They certainly were after Matheus Cunha's fine shot.

It had not all been enjoyable, but - in the circumstances of the day - once Wolves had scored, the only two words that mattered were "Southampton nil". Better performances will need to follow, but this game had to be won first, by any means.

Lemina has faith and is happy to share it: "We know our manager is doing everything. Sometimes it's not about him - it's just about what we do on the pitch. Today showed he was a good tactical manager."

Nevertheless, there is a section of supporters, voluble in public channels even after Saturday, who still feel that this is the time to change, with winter in mind.

The idea that Wolves are now into an easy spell, after their demanding start, is a fallacy with Fulham next. But for now, O'Neil seems to have the club's backing.

Lemina says he certainly has support from the players.

"We have to stick together. The whole city has to stick together, the club need to stick together, and that’s what we did."

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