Putting it right

Stearman reflects on late setback

Returning Richard Stearman admitted that he and the Wolves dressing room were “devastated” after they were pegged back late on against Burton Albion at Molineux on Saturday.

 

Wolves had gone in front on the second half through Prince Oniangue, but, deep into the six minutes of stoppage time, Will Miller converted to earn a point for the visitors.

 

Speaking after his first match back in a Wolves shirt following his loan switch from Fulham. Stearman said: "We're devastated in there. We felt we'd done enough to get the three points - they'd not really tested us too much, so that last minute equaliser is tough to take.

 

"We had a couple of chances ourselves on the counter attack and could have been two or three up, so it's unfortunate that we've gone down to a last minute equaliser.

 

"Burton are a solid team though - they know what they're doing and they've got a good system which works for them.

 

“They put enough balls in the box and that's resulted in a goalat the very end there.

 

“We felt like we'd dealt with it through the majority of the game, we imposed ourselves on the game well and created chances."

 

During the first half, Stearman was adjudged to have handled the ball in the Wolves box, resulting in a Lucas Akins penalty which Carl Ikeme saved low down to his right.

 

Stearman felt that the decision was harsh, saying: "I've just come to close the lad down as he's crossing the ball, and the ref has adjudged that I've handled it. I need to see it again, but I thought it was a little harsh.

 

"The referees are obviously trying to clamp down on stuff like that, so I think it's going to happen more frequently now - referees are more inclined to give penalties that maybe wouldn't have been in the past."

 

On emerging from the Molineux tunnel for his first game back at the club, Stearman was given a huge ovation by the home fans, something which he admitted was an emotional moment.

 

He said: "It felt very emotional coming back out there for the first time.

 

“It was great to be back out on the pitch - I thoroughly enjoyed it and it's great to be back.

 

“You could see with the goal - which I thought was just just rewards for us - that it was great to be joining in the celebrations again.

 

"Everyone knows that this is a special club for me, and it's great to be back.

 

“We've got another point and we move on to Tuesday - if we pick up three points there it's an average of two points a game, and that's what we're looking at.

 

“Hopefully we can pick up those three points on Tuesday and put right what went wrong today."