Wolves extended their run without a Premier League win to six games last night against Bournemouth, with several key decisions proving to be costly for both sides.
Gary O’Neil was left to digest another game without a win for his jaded Wolves side, who lost 1-0 to Bournemouth at Molineux on Wednesday night.
The Cherries decided the direction of the points through Antoine Semenyo’s first-half goal in a game that saw the 1-0 scoreline flatter the hosts, who could have suffered a heavy defeat if it wasn’t for the brilliance of Jose Sa.
It’s back to the drawing board for O’Neil, who already knows the outcome of the defeat’s autopsy, with Wolves’ lack of squad depth tainting the end of the season with a host of key players absent once more.
It was far from the Old Gold’s best performance, with the manager singling the display out as one of the ‘worst’ of his side’s season however, Wolves will feel somewhat hard done by once again by the intervention of VAR.
While O’Neil opted not to comment on the ruling out of Hwang Hee-chan’s header, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola made his thoughts on two key decisions in the fixture clear.
What Andoni Iraola thought of Wolves disallowed goal and Bournemouth red card
VAR ruled out Hwang’s first goal of 2024 after a foul was spotted in the build-up, seeing Matheus Cunha raise an arm although, no Bournemouth players appealed violent conduct at the time.
Speaking after the game to Sky Sports, Iraola explained why he thought the decision to rule the goal out was ‘obvious’.
“I think it’s key that he gets involved in the play. It’s a foul, it’s obvious.
“I think the foul doesn’t allow him to defend properly and the cross comes from there and that’s the reason they disallowed it.”
Iraola’s opinion certainly wasn’t shared by everyone, with VAR’s intervention slandered for ‘nit-picking‘ by Stan Collymore, who called for VAR to be axed after viewing Hwang’s overturned goal.
The disallowed goal wasn’t the only pivotal moment of the match, as Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez was shown a straight red card for a reckless foul on Matt Doherty.
Iraola commented on the decision to dismiss Kerkez, admitting that Bournemouth will appeal.
“I don’t think it’s fair that a player can lose three games and today’s game because of this foul. I think it’s a yellow card, he arrives late yes but it’s on the floor with one foot.
“He even tries to bend his knee at the end, trying not to damage Doherty. I suppose the club is going to appeal and I hope he is available.”
Decisions in Wolves v Bournemouth will split opinion
Like any decision in a football match, people will have different opinions on the calls of the referee and VAR, with last week seeing controversy hit a high as Nottingham Forest released a bizarre statement in reaction to their defeat to Everton.
Wolves themselves have been denied many points this campaign due to the intervention of VAR, amounting to O’Neil choosing not to comment on yesterday’s ruling out of Hwang’s goal.
READ MORE: Premier League without VAR: How Wolves’ season would be different
It’s been a frustrating season for every club in the Premier League when it comes to VAR, with the standard and consistency of officiating in the English top flight far from where it needs to be.