Wolves captain Mario Lemina says only “liars and cheaters” would blame manager Gary O’Neil for them being bottom of the Premier League table after seven games.
The 31-year-old midfielder says he put in his worst performance on Saturday, giving a penalty away in their 5-3 defeat away at Brentford.
He believes Wolves are on course for relegation unless the players, who he primarily blames for the club’s winless run, respond after the international break.
Lemina said: “The way we are playing, the way we are defending right now is going to get us in relegation and we have to be honest about that right now.”
He added about O’Neil: “No, Gary is not the problem. He is doing really well. If you say Gary O’Neil is the problem then you are liars and cheaters, because he has given us a lot. A lot of things we didn’t have before.
“He has given a chance to a lot of players and now we have to give it back to him, because at the moment we are not giving it back.
“I think the fans really love him as well. Now it is a point of view because of the results, which is understandable.”
Brentford – in 11th – are the only team outside the current top 10 that Wolves have played this season, with just one point gained at Nottingham Forest.
“It is not about the coach, it is not about anything but ourselves,” said Lemina. “After the international break we need to be honest again with ourselves and try to work things out and be committed to the plan, that’s it.
“We have just one point, it is really bad but I am really sure that we are going to come back from this. It is going to be tough after the international break, mentally, but we have to believe in ourselves.”
Wolves have more difficult matches after the international break, hosting champions Manchester City at Molineux before a trip to the Amex to face Brighton.
Lemina added that City are not “superhuman” before explaining: “There’s no excuses now. We have got to put our heads down and work really hard.
“The game is at home and I know we are going to have the support from the fans. We are going to try everything to win the game.”