Sam Johnstone feels he is a different person from when he arrived at Molineux 12 months ago as he began the season with a renewed belief of showing just why he deserves Wolves’ number one shirt.
The goalkeeper – who has revealed the difficulties he went through after losing his place in the side last season – has been in impressive form during Wolves’ unbeaten three-game run, after building on the first clean sheet of the campaign against Everton in the Carabao Cup.
However, Johnstone admits he shares the team’s and fans’ frustrations at having to settle for two draws from their last two Premier League outings when six points were so close to being secured.
On late frustrations in recent games
“It’s so frustrating and tough to take. I thought we’d defended well for a lot of the game, especially the second half, and then just one little lapse of concentration and not doing our job cost us three points.
“I said this last week after the Tottenham game, that we’re working hard on the pitch and it’s obviously frustrating for everyone; us and the fans, and probably more than ever we probably need to back ourselves and the fans to back us as well, just to try and get us over the line.
“The fans have been great, but we sometimes hear their frustrations, as well as ours and the staff. But hopefully we can get that positive feeling around the place and hopefully get our first three points soon.”
On remaining upbeat
“Brighton are a good team, and let’s be honest, if it was the other way around and we scored late and we’d have scored in the last minute against Tottenham [to earn two draws], it’d be a different feeling, but it’s hard to take because it's obviously the other way around.
“And because we’re still down there, it’s tough, and getting the three points is becoming more and more important. But you can’t question the lads’ work rate, the lads’ ability, the team’s desire to try and get a win. We’ve just been unlucky in the last two games.”
On his impressive personal form
“My thought process is that I’m there to try and keep the ball out of the net, but it still frustrates me that we haven’t got the wins.
“I never look at it and think, ‘Ok, well I've done well, no problem’. It’s never personal and about me.
“Although I’m happy that I’m playing well and I’m able to show people what I can do, the frustrations are still there that you’re making the saves and it’s not quite getting us three points just yet.”
A stunning save by Sam Johnstone 😱 pic.twitter.com/dhNucR2F4B
— Wolves (@Wolves) October 6, 2025
On feeling a key part of the team
“I feel a completely different person to when I first came. When I first came and went straight in the team and I was on the back of an elbow operation, no pre-season, a new team, not really knowing anyone's names, and [not playing for large spells] was tough to take.
“I’ve had to wait and bide my time and grind away in the background, working, and wait for my chance. I’ve had to get my head down and kind of swallow my pride a little bit, and work hard, keep working every day.
“I’m obviously happy that the managers feels that whoever’s performing plays, and I think that goes throughout the team, so hopefully I can keep my form up.”
On difficulties last season
“It was tough as I’ve been used to playing for so long, but the hardest thing was that you weren’t showing yourself and people weren’t seeing me, because I know what I can do, and no one could see it. You do speak to people, but then I also think it’s just hard work which can change things.
“At the end of last season, I was injured. I played the cup games injured and then at the end of the season I made the decision that I’m not playing, and I need to get this injury sorted ready for this season, so I can come back and give it my all.
“In the summer, I went to Portugal with my family and we took a goalie coach and we took a fitness coach with me to train, and we worked. I got my head down and that's all you can do.
“But last season was frustrating, but you’ve got to get your head down. I see what people think and you see the stuff online that’s said about you, but no one sees what you're doing as I just quietly get on with it. I knew I just had to take it on the chin, work hard, get my head down, sort my injury out, work throughout the summer and come back and work.”
