Something To Build On

Skipper on Saturday's draw at Blackburn

Danny Batth says the Wolves dressing room will stick together to emerge from a difficult start to the season and start to climb the Sky Bet Championship table.

The first game since the departure of previous Head Coach Walter Zenga saw Dave’ Edwards on target late on to secure a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, the first game under Interim Head Coach Rob Edwards.

It was a real test of character with Wolves having previously struggled to make the most of their chances, and the captain was pleased to see everyone stick to the task to come away from Ewood Park with a point.

“The boys showed that we have hard work, passion and a lot of heart,” said Batth.

“Whatever the circumstances the players won’t give up, everyone kept going and we came away with a point.

“It wasn’t ideal, and we feel we might have had three, but it is something to build on.

“Towards the end of the game we thought we created a lot of chances and also a few in the first half where if we were a bit more confident they might have gone in.

“We have only had three days with Rob and hopefully the fans at the game and watching on television will have seen a philosophy and what we were trying to do.

“We knew Blackburn would be a tough game and, despite their league position, had good attacking players in the likes of Marshall, Conway and Gallagher.

“We had to stay rigid without the ball – we can work it that more over the coming days – and then it is about turning our attacking play into a finished product.

“On another day I think a few more of our chances go in – Eddo had a few chance and he kept going and got his goal.

“It was always going to be a cagey game given the circumstances and to come away with a point away from home is something we can build on.

“We know we are not the finished product at the moment, and we have had a high turnover of players and are just trying to bed everything in.

“We want to settle things down and start to climb the table.”

Zenga had departed Wolves after winning four of 14 league games at the helm.

Such departures, while part of football, can often prove difficult for a dressing room, but Batth believes the players have responded in a professional manner.

“No one envisages a Head Coach losing his job,” he explained.

“We all back whoever is running the club and when the decision was made we have to move on and focus on the game that we had on Saturday.

“The attitude of everyone has been great this week and we have been working hard with Rob and the staff.

“Rob is smart about his football – anyone who has spoken to him will tell you that he knows his football and knows what he wants to do.

“We are all behind him as we would be whoever is in charge.

“We are all professionals and it is about your mentality – we still see ourselves as a Championship club which should be challenging higher up the table.

“Hopefully fans will stay with us through this period and then when things click into place we can climb the table.”

And Batth believes Wolves have it within their capabilities to start putting results on the board, starting again with Saturday’s visit of a revitalised Derby County (12.30pm).

“We have been ‘in’ each of the last five or six games – they have all been marginal – and it is about time we came out on the right side of those margins,” he said.

“Those margins are so fine in the Championship, everyone can beat everyone and results can go either way as we saw at the weekend with some big scores.

“For us it is about being right on it from the word go and be focused on getting a run together.

“We are all playing for Wolves,  and trying to represent the club and the fans as best we can.

“It has been a tricky situation but it is about sticking together and hopefully getting some points on the board.”