BRENTFORD struck early yet again – and it could now be too late for Gary O’Neil.
No wins from the first seven games adds up to Wolves’ worst start since 2003-04.
And with the away end booing at the end of both halves it would be no surprise if O’Neil became this season’s first Premier League managerial casualty.
First-half goals from Nathan Collins, Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard and Ethan Pinnock set up victory for the Bees – who opened the scoring in double quick time for a fourth straight Prem game.
Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen provided equalisers but Wolves are bottom for a reason – they let in far too many.
Sub Fabio Carvalho proved that point with a late fifth for Thomas Frank’s side, who kept Wolves keeper Sam Johnstone far too busy.
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There was still time for Rayan Ait-Nouri to net a Wolves’ third but an international break is coming up and O’Neil may soon be the latest boss to pay the price for a duff start.
“We’re gonna score in a minute!” sang the home fans as the game kicked off – and they were only slightly wrong.
Wolves held out for just 75 seconds when Mikkel Damsgaard crossed for Collins to head past Johnstone.
Manchester City, Tottenham and West Ham had all let in first-minute goals in the Bees’ three previous Prem outings.
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Frank hailed that as a world record – and the latest early edition saw the wags on Brentford’s X account quip: “We are getting slow.”
Perhaps they shouldn’t have as history repeated itself in another way.
Brentford had failed to hang on to any of those super-speedy leads – and Wolves were level just two minutes later.
Nelson Semedo pulled the ball back from the right for Cunha to convert first time from near the penalty spot.
Wolves continued to make things difficult for themselves by conceding a 19th-minute penalty.
Again Collins was the main character, going down under Mario Lemina’s grappling.
Referee Andrew Madley didn’t give it initially – but pointed to the spot on VAR Michael Oliver’s recommendation.
It was a bit of a soft award but Mbeumo sent Johnstone the wrong way to net his sixth of the season.
Yet again the lead lasted just a handful of minutes however.
This time ex-Wolves man Collins was at fault for a loose pass from inside his own box in the 26th minute.
That allowed Rayan Ait-Nouri to whip in a cross from the left that Strand Larsen expertly guided into a corner from six yards.
Incredibly Wolves decided once again that they didn’t fancy parity.
Poor ball retention in their own back line saw Brentford open them up with a couple of rapid passes and Norgaard fired across Johnstone.
Wolves were caught out again in first-half stoppage time when Pinnock was given too much space to head home a corner at the back post.
Boos from the away end greeted the half-time whistle – and chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” followed when O’Neil swapped defensive midfielder Andre for attacker Hwang Hee-chan early in the second half.
Wolves rarely looked like scoring but Johnstone remained busy, denying Kevin Schade and Mbeumo before diverting Keane Lewis-Potter’s cross for Carvalho to tap in.
Ait-Nouri pulled one back in stoppage-time, bursting through on the left to fire through Mark Flekken’s legs but it was far too late.
The away fans booed the final whistle – those who remained that is.
The away section was completely deserted as Brentford players did a lap of appreciation for their own following.
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Now O’Neil must see if he still retains the backing of his employers at a time when Wolves sit isolated at the bottom of the table, below Southampton on goal difference only.
No such problems for Frank of course – it is only the Bees number-crunchers who are in trouble when the Dane asks them to check for the most goals in the first two minutes this week.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
