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Eight cup finals for Wolves' title

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Stephen Ward is taking nothing for granted in Wolves' promotion push after warning they face "eight cup finals" to claim their prize.

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WOLVES V BARNSLEY 15 GD 13Stephen Ward is taking nothing for granted in Wolves' promotion push after warning they face "eight cup finals" to claim their prize.

The Championship leaders host rock bottom Charlton on Saturday, aiming to build on their improved run of seven points from nine that has kept them three points clear – and seven clear of the play-offs.

Mick McCarthy's side are also looking to extend their run of 359 minutes without conceding and make it four clean sheets in a row against the Addicks.

But Ward, who returned to the side for Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Ipswich, acknowledges the unpredictability of facing struggling opposition after Charlton's 2-2 draw at third-placed Reading - and is refusing to count any chickens.

He said: "The only thing we sense is we've got eight games to go and they're going to be eight cup finals. We're taking it game by game and up to Tuesday, Ipswich was all we were focusing on – not Saturday.

"Now Tuesday night's game is over, we look towards Charlton. That's the way it has to be from now until the end of the season.

"Every game is a stepping stone and if we can just take each match as one 90-minute period, I feel we've got the capability to pick up the right amount of points to get us where we've aimed for from Day One in July."

Ward is warning his teammates they face a real battle to overcome Charlton, who will be without Wolves defender Darren Ward under the terms of his loan between the clubs.

The Irish utility man said: "No team makes it easy for you, trust me. Every game this season has been a battle and thankfully we've come out on top in most of them.

"We need to do that on Saturday. They will have come off the back off a good result at Reading which will no doubt give confidence.

"They're fighting for their lives but we won't underestimate them and we'll prepare for them like we would any team coming here.

"It's important now that on the back of a couple of good results we get three points."