Dave Edwards refuses to blame Molineux pitch

Dave Edwards today refused to blame the problem Molineux pitch as he admitted Wolves' final ball wasn't good enough in the FA Cup exit to Stoke.

The hard-running midfielder was Wolves' best player at Molineux yesterday, but couldn't prevent them slipping to a 1-0 fourth round defeat.

"At times when we broke our final ball let us down and that was the key," said Edwards, who made his first team comeback after a hamstring injury.

"The pitch is a bit tricky but it's the same for both sides and the errors we made were nothing to do with the pitch.

"We had to try to get the ball down and pass it because to lump it up to our forwards would have suited their game.

"And we didn't pass it well enough.

"We know we shouldn't be giving throw-ins and free kicks away cheaply against Stoke.

"And yet we defended them so well until the last 10 minutes.

"So we were really disappointed.

"It was basically a Premier League game with both us and Stoke putting out strong teams and we really felt we could win."

Edwards also refused to blame Nenad Milijas, whose last-gasp penalty was saved by Thomas Sorensen.

"Nenad won the penalty and has scored a few this season so there was no doubt he was going to take it," he said.

"He didn't quite strike it cleanly enough and Sorensen guessed the right way.

"It's just one of those things and a shame that it epitomised our second half performance really."

But Edwards regrets Wolves' early exit – the sixth time in seven years that they have gone out at the fourth round stage.

"We were keen for a cup run," said the Wales international.

"If we'd won we'd only have been two games away from a possible Wembley semi-final.

"The FA Cup is a great competition and it's still got its magic because as a player you want to be involved in it and the big games.

"It's something you look on when you're older."

But he was at least happy to be back in action again after another frustrating lay-off.

"I got 75 minutes which was probably ideal for me," he said.

"I'd got 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek but it's completely different with the tempo in the first team.

"I'm just glad to get through it.

"I'm working extremely hard in the gym to make sure I'm fitter and stronger because I need to stop picking up niggling injuries.

"I'm going to go out of my way to do that with lots of stretching routines and strengthening on my legs and hopefully it will pay off."

Edwards also believes new signing Jamie O'Hara, who watched from the stands after his loan move from Tottenham, will strengthen the team.

"Jamie did ever so well at Portsmouth last year and he's definitely a welcome addition to the squad and a boost for competition for places," he said.

"He's been a bit unfortunate with injuries this season but it's good to have him here and will give a good option for the manager."