Wolves V Bolton at Molineux Stadium : Match Preview

31 March 2012 08:09
Terry Connor insists the belief of the Wolves players from surviving previous Barclays Premier League relegation battles will stand them in good stead for the current uphill fight to stay up.

Connor will be searching for his first win since replacing the sacked Mick McCarthy in Saturday's home clash with fellow strugglers Bolton. Wolves are currently four points adrift of safety but Connor knows one victory could be the springboard to another successful attempt to remain in the top flight. Connor said: "Until someone tells me it is not possible to get enough points, then we will keep believing. "The players remain positive because they all believe they can stay up. That is what they've been doing for two or three seasons now - and successfully - so they are well versed in it. "The fact we've done it year in and year out keeps us believing. Since we've been in the Premier League, we've had to work hard to survive. "The players have got that in them. The Blackburn game, when we were 3-0 down on the final day of last season and staring the championship in the face and came back, is still fresh in the mind.

"They've got that knowledge, they've been through it before. "We know we are not the most talented and gifted group of lads but what we do know is we fight tooth and nail for everything we get and that is what we will continue to do." Connor is trying to play down the significance of the meeting with Owen Coyle's side. He said: "If we don't win, it won't be all over at all. If we get a point, you add it to your total and move onto the next game and try and get three out of that one. "Everyone has been talking about a must-win game and getting off to a great start but it will take 90 minutes to win the game, not an opening salvo of 15-20 minutes. Midfielder Karl Henry should be available after a month out of action with a hamstring injury while full-back Ronald Zubar returns after serving a one-match suspension.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle believes a win over Wolves could be key in his side's bid to avoid relegation. Wolves are currently bottom after four straight defeats while Bolton - who are still coming to terms with the cardiac arrest suffered by Fabrice Muamba - are looking for their third consecutive league win and are currently just above the bottom three. The Trotters have beaten relegation rivals QPR and Blackburn in recent weeks, and with their game against Aston Villa postponed as a result of Muamba's condition, they have a game in hand over the other teams at the bottom.

Coyle believes the game gives his side a golden chance to create some vital breathing space. "Saturday presents an opportunity," Coyle said. "As difficult as it is, as Wolves away is always a tough game, we went there last year and won and we have to look to do the same again. "The players will be ready. They'll recognise what's involved with the football match and what it means. "It's not a game that's taking place in August or September where you have 30 games to recover. This is a game that comes at the business end of the season for both teams. "We always throw out the old cliche of a six pointer. This is a six pointer, there's no getting away from it. It's a huge game for both teams and has huge connotations. "If we win the game we go seven points clear with a game in hand with seven games left. If Wolves win the game it's back to one point with a game in hand. "We have to go and be very positive to win that game and show the spirit and that camaraderie that we have, and on top of that show our quality."

However, Coyle is not underestimating Connor's Wolves, despite their run of poor form. "They're very dangerous," Coyle said. "I watched the game they lost to Norwich last week and they were very unlucky. "We've got no doubts it will be a tough game and we're away from home so they will have that advantage, but we'll go there aiming to get to our maximum. "If we do that we'll have shown we can put in big performances and get big results." Trotters midfielder Darren Pratley will miss out after he suffered a gashed knee during the FA Cup defeat against Tottenham in midweek. It was originally thought he could be out of action for up to six weeks, but Coyle revealed he might be back in contention for the Fulham game on April 7. end

Wolverhampton V Bolton - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.

Source: PA