Kevin Foley insists Wolves’ clash against Cardiff this weekend is not a “must-win” game – for fear of cranking up the pressure on the team even more.

Wolves are under fire for winning just one of their last nine games to leave fans concerned about the team’s automatic promotion prospects.

Foley is confident of Wolves’ chances of returning to winning ways but feels the added pressure of a must-win scenario may force players into unnecessary mistakes.

“Cardiff is a big game but we don’t need to put ourselves under any added pressure,” he said.

“We know what’s at stake but we can’t go out saying we have to win the game because that will just add to the pressure and means people are more likely to make mistakes. Of course, it would be good to get back to winning ways but we must also remember we’ve got 13 games left and 39 points to play for.

“There’s still a long way to go.”

Foley, meanwhile, says the players are “refreshed” on their four-day break in La Manga and reckons the benefits mean the squad have bonded even closer and been able to train better.

“It’s been good to get away with the rest of the lads,” he said.

“Over the last few weeks we’ve not been able to do all that much training because it’s been hampered by the weather.

“The pitches have been frozen and some of the lads can’t really train on the indoor pitches and so it’s been helpful to get away and do some proper training in different surroundings.

“The chance to train as well as relax should definitely recharge our batteries and leave us all coming back feeling refreshed and ready for the last 13 games.

“It’s a case of ‘crunch time’ in terms of the season and I think after these few days we are all looking forward to getting back and starting again.

“This break has probably come at just the right time.

“We’ve got a great bunch of lads who are top drawer and hopefully this will bring us together even more.

“We all get on together and hopefully a few days away will just fire us up even more for the remaining matches.”

Foley insists his confidence hasn’t been affected by the poor run and claims cutting out the mistakes leading to goals is all Wolves need to do to get back to winning ways again.

“We’ve not been on the best of runs recently but I’m not sure about a drop in confidence, personally I don’t feel that way,” he said.

“I don’t think any of us have stopped doing what we are doing but we have just been on one of those runs which all teams have in this league.

“It’s like the Burnley game.

“We started OK and then a few minutes in we concede a goal and it becomes a case of chasing the game again.”