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We've gone from kings to idiots, says Stale Solbakken

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Wolves boss Stale Solbakken today admitted his team has gone from being "kings to the idiots of Wolverhampton" – now he has challenged them to get their crown back.

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Solbakken's side host form team Millwall tonight, desperate to end a run of eight games without a win which has seen the team drop from third to 17th in the Championship after taking just three points out of the last 24. The worrying sequence has turned up the heat on the manager less than five months into the job. But, despite losing the lead six times in nine home games this season which has cost them 14 points, he believes they can rediscover the form that took them to five wins in six.

"Already this season, we've gone through all phases; we started slowly, we came out of it and were kings of Wolverhampton for a few weeks, now we're the idiots but we can get out of it again," said Solbakken.

"It's important we do that together and don't just go for the simple solutions which make us not feel well among ourselves. It's about looking in the mirror."

Solbakken believes some players are taking the easier option with their passing and challenged them to be brave and show courage, although he stopped short of saying they were hiding in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

"Whether they have a good or bad game against Millwall, it's all about approaching it with great courage and bravery," he said. "It's not so much hiding and I don't think they meant anything by it other than a combination of frustration and maybe searching for the easy solutions, instead of doing that bit extra.

"That's human, but we saw signs of that in the last 20-25 minutes on Saturday.

"It's something we have to take seriously so it doesn't happen."

Wolves are without nine players through injury plus Karl Henry's suspension and Solbakken believes they're sorely missed.

"Four outfield players on the bench on Saturday haven't had 10 games together," he said.

"So it's not as if we can put those guys in the team and say 'solve it'.

"These players should go into a team functioning well one by one to get their education but we're not there at the moment. Four or five players aren't able to help."