However, the under-21s head coach also admitted a tinge of disappointment that it wasn’t all three at Aggborough, with his team creating the better chances on the night before they fell a goal down on 75 minutes.
It took a 25-yard piledriver from Chem Campbell, who was lively throughout, shortly after to level the score and secure a point for Wolves. It was a goal of real high quality with the ball arrowing in off the underside of the crossbar, and it was the type of special moment that Campbell has shown to Collins on several occasions in the past.
On the 90 minutes and taking a point
“I thought it was a high standard game. When we got promoted, that was why we were so delighted – because we knew we’d have games of a real top standard in this league.
“I thought we edged it and deserved to win. Then again, we went 1-0 down and it took a real top-class goal from Chem to get us a point.
“We were pushing at the end, and I think that showed how the game went. In the end, they were probably happy to get the point and we were pushing for the three.
“It’s still a good point against a really good side. We’re slightly disappointed not to get all three but delighted with a point.”
On creating the better chances
“They won our league at a canter last season. I think they’ve lost four games in over a year and one of those was against us.
“They’re a good side, a really strong side with senior under-21 players playing. We knew it was going to be a really hard game and I said to my players at half-time that if it was a boxing match, we’d be winning on points and slightly ahead.
“The game went back and forth in the second half, but I was really pleased with our performance and character.
“When you go 1-0 down with 15 minutes to go, you’d probably take a point at that stage.
“Without knocking them, I thought we had the better chances and played the more exciting attacking football, but they still contributed to the game.
“The goalkeeper made a brilliant save from Lee (Harkin). I thought the header in the first half was a brilliant save. The second one was a good save, but we probably could’ve done better with our finish on that one with Harry (Birtwistle) at the near post.
“When you’re on top you want to get your goals and we didn’t – it cost us in the end.”
On Chem Campbell’s wonder strike
“Thankfully Chem’s hit one that he does regularly in training. He’s scored some good goals for us. I remember one of my very first games we went to Leicester and were getting well beat. He produced one around two-and-a-half years ago that was similar to that, and I remember thinking ‘who’s this kid?’ because he was only young at the time.
“You don’t see many in matches like that, but he’s capable of that. He’s kicked on again this year and looks much more like the complete player that he needs to be.
“There’s still plenty for him to work on like they all have, but that’s what he’s got to do in big moments – produce that quality, and he did.”
On Everton up next this Friday
“Again, they’re a strong side and were unbeaten until they lost to Chelsea at the weekend. They’ve got a good youth system and all the games in this league are very difficult.
“We’ve really risen to the challenge of that up to this point and we want to continue to do so. It’s an exciting league to be in, they’re good games and a real test for our players – tactically and physically.
“At the moment we’re enjoying having a right good go at making the best of it.”
