Sam Johnstone believes Wolves will take a lot of confidence and belief into Wednesday’s Molineux clash against Nottingham Forest after continuing to show improvement under Rob Edwards.
Although the Old Gold are still searching for a first Premier League win of the season and a first victory under their new head coach, Johnstone feels the displays against Crystal Palace, but especially at Villa Park on Sunday, has proved there is still the chance for Wolves to turn their season around.
With Forest next to pay a visit to Molineux under the lights this week, the goalkeeper thinks the game will provide the perfect opportunity for his side to get those illusive three points to kick start their campaign.
On taking confidence from Sunday
“We played well and were unfortunate not to get the result. The dressing room is frustrated still because we can see the improvements, but we’re just not quite getting the results yet.
“It obviously hurts again, but we just have to keep our heads up and keep going because the manager’s not been here long and we’re making changes, we’re training differently, so everyone’s got used to that and then we go and put it out on the pitch.
“We know we don’t have much time and we need to change it soon, but there was improvements, and although we’re frustrated and upset, we should actually be pretty proud of the performance we gave at a tough place.”
On luck not going his team’s way
“We came to Villa Park, a tough place, and Martinez has kept them in the game really. I’ve not had half as much to do as what he did, so we should be proud, and on another day, we win the game.
“But at the moment, that’s just the way our luck is going. It’s not going our way but with the hard work we’re putting in, I think that should change.”
On improved performances
“It's obvious to the whole club, the fans, that we needed to change something and try and turn our luck a little bit. The performance there was better, and for 67 minutes against Palace we were better too, so we can see improvement.
“Hopefully sooner rather than later we get that win, and we’re on our way. But we need to get that pretty soon because every game is massive.”
On what Edwards has changed
“Just nailing down defensively, everyone knows their jobs, the standards have been raised, the standards of training, the standards around the training ground.
“We’re in a difficult place and we can’t accept little things that were being swept under the carpet, because they end up becoming bigger things. But he’s on the lads for standards, for mentality, and defensively, but we also have to be on each other.
“It’s not personal when you’re asking your teammate to do something. Football is difficult and we have to drag the best out of each other and the manager’s doing that. But when we’re on the pitch, we need to do it to each other and fight for each other like we saw on Sunday to be fair.”
On facing Forest at Molineux on Wednesday
“Every game is massive now, whether it’s home or away. We need to get that win ASAP. We need the fans behind us, especially at home, because Molineux is a tough place to come when it’s loud and we need them with us.
“But home or away, we need to start winning. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s as frustrating for the fans, as it is for myself, the players and the staff, but it has been said a lot, we have to all come together.
“The fans at our home games, away games, and we all need each other really. They’ve probably seen improvement over the last two weeks, and we’re on an upward sort of structure, so hopefully that keeps going.
“I’m not saying we’re going to go and win every game, there’s going to be ups and downs still, but we just need that first win to kick start us and give us that confidence, give us that belief that we have good players, and we can win games.”
