Rob Edwards admitted Wolves’ poor start to the game gave them at mountain to climb against Derby this afternoon - but was pleased with the second half fightback.
Wolves found themselves two goals down inside 15 minutes after a hugely disappointing opening, but rallied after the break with Helder Costa bringing them back into the game.
A controversial Tom Ince penalty restored the Rams’ two goal advantage but Dave Edwards struck to raise hopes of an equaliser, which ultimately didn’t come.
The Interim Head Coach was left reflecting very much on the clichéd game of two halves.
“I was proud of the second half – that was how I wanted the team to play,” said Edwards.
“Their spirit, the endeavour, and at times the quality, was all there.
“It was just a shame we didn’t see that in the first half because going a couple goals down gave us a mountain to climb.
“We played in our first half too much in that opening period.
“We needed to get into their half more and build up some momentum and that is what we did in the second half.
“We made mistakes, and if you do that against quality players you get punished.
“We needed to get our attacking players into the game and that is what happened after the break.
“I was just firm with the lads at half time, telling them to keep believing.
“I told them that somewhere in the country a team would come back from 2-0 down – let’s try and make that is.
“We gave it a real go, but it wasn’t quite enough.
“The lads gave it everything in the second half and we got back into it and the place was rocking but it was then frustrating to concede again.
“I can’t fault the lads’ attitude and commitment and was pleased with how they responded in the second half.”
The atmosphere turned amongst the home fans after a difficult first half, which Edwards understood given the way the game was going.
But he was pleased to see the fans respond to the improvement after the interval.
“I don’t think the atmosphere in the first half helps,” he said.
“But the fans have to bounce off the players, just like they did in the second half when the atmosphere was great and the crowd got right behind us.
“They were well within their rights to voice their frustrations because what they saw in the first half wasn’t good enough.
“There is high expectation at this club and rightly so and we can’t start games like we did today.
“And I know in the last few games there has been a lot of frustration because we haven’t got the results.
“The players showed that they cared in the second half and they stood up to be counted.
“The fans showed the great backing that they give us and the players and the crowd bounced off each other really well.”
There were several controversial decisions in the second half, and while Edwards says the players felt Wolves were on the wrong end of several of those calls, he declined to comment publically.
And he was more focused on looking ahead to the future.
An announcement on a new Head Coach is expected, and Edwards believes the new man will inherit a good squad of players.
“I think any new manager or head coach will have seen in the second half that there is a good group of players here,” he explained.
“And there are some really good players who were on the bench or even not involved – it is a big squad with a lot of quality.
“It is all about finding consistency and producing a 90 minutes like that second half.
“We just need to get ourselves together and stick together and the next manager can come in and work with the players and work towards a positive result when we go to Preston.
“For me, I have really enjoyed this last ten days.
“But ultimately it is about results and we haven’t got enough points over the two games.
“That frustrates me, and, from a selfish point of view, will probably frustrate me for quite some time as well.
“For the club it was about stabilising things as much as possible and working as hard as we could as a group of staff and players.
“Everyone has been really professional and the next person that takes over will inherit a really good group of people, as well as the quality of players.
“It has been an amazing experience and I have enjoyed almost all of it, but obviously I would have liked to have got more points.
“Hopefully it can happen again in the future at some stage.”
Edwards continued: “I hope I will carry on here.
“It is up to the person who comes in who will have a say in things because they will want to work with people they can trust.
“I have committed myself to this football club and said I will carry on working and giving everything to the club in whatever capacity.
“I would like to be part of things going forward but let us wait and see what the next few days bring.”
