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.”