Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil believes his side “must” get a result when they take on Luton at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.
The visitors, like Town, have endured a difficult start to their Premier League campaign, taking just three points from five matches so far, including defeats to Manchester United, Brighton and Liverpool.
They now face a Hatters side who, despite improving after the game, are still bottom of the table with four out of four losses so far.
With that in mind, O’Neil, who was appointed just days before the start of the season in place of Julen Lopetegui, stressed the importance of picking up points against a team considered by many to be relegation candidates.
Speaking on the club’s official website, he said:
“We think this is a team we can play very well with.
“There are certain games in this league – and we’ve had a few already, Manchester United away, Liverpool at home and even Brighton when they’re coming up – where you know you have to reach your best performance.
You needed everything to succeed in those days.
“We have had some tough games and Luton away is obviously a tough game, but with our group of players and what we have, we know we have to go out and win result.
“It was a game where we could get a result, just like Everton and Crystal Palace.
O’Neil knows it won’t be easy for his team when they travel to Bedfordshire, where his players will be faced with something completely different to what they are used to in the top flight, both on the field and in the stands.
He continued:
They (Luton) are very good in the way they choose to play, they are very direct, usually the front two are a handful.
“They go back and forth very quickly, posing a threat from set pieces, and Luton itself, the stadium and the feeling of the place is different to what you face in the Premier League.
“The atmosphere and feel of the match will be something the players will also have to face and they will be prepared and understood.
“The boys know what Luton will give us and the best way to win.
The visitors also have no real injury concerns in the league, despite some changes to their preparations since O’Neil, who was acrimoniously sacked by Bournemouth in the summer despite retaining Cherries, after Lopetegui’s departure.
He added:
“Everyone is doing well, which is obviously important because we have changed the training structure.
“When you do that, sometimes you can have injuries and trouble in this period of change and nothing has happened yet, so the boys are in a good position.
“’Hodgy’ (Joe Hodge) is back and training over the last few days, which is positive and the rest of the players are looking good.
“I don’t know about the length or duration, but the intensity is definitely higher and after looking at the amount they were putting out before we got to what we’re doing now, the training is intense.
a little taller than him.
“We’re just doing things a little differently to how they’re doing it, so there’s got to be adaptations and hopefully we’ll start to see the impact of that in terms of fitness.
” depart from Lopetegui