Wolves defender Stephen Ward has kicked off the countdown to the survival clash against Bolton on Saturday by claiming the game has assumed ‘must-win’ status.

The second-bottom side go into the crunch match against their next-placed rivals four points from safety, after Sunday’s damaging 1-0 defeat against Birmingham left them eight Premier League games without a win.

Wolves follow the visit of Gary Megson’s men with trips to Champions League-chasing Tottenham and Manchester United, leaving Mick McCarthy’s players aware that Saturday’s game presents their best chance of ending their run before the December 19 visit of Burnley.

Ward said: “Saturday’s game is massive for us now – one that’s definitely a must-win. We’ve got to step up to the plate because we’re the ones out there.

“But if we could just get one win, it would change our season and that’s what we’re looking to do. We were devastated that it didn’t happen on Sunday.”