Beards to stay: Wolves' Richard Stearman says hair will remain until promotion is sealed
Richard Stearman is promising the Wolves beards will remain until they clinch promotion.
A clutch of Molineux men have become more hirsute in recent weeks. The former Leicester defender has been joined by team-mates Matt Doherty, Danny Batth, Jack Price, James Henry and Michael Jacobs in sprouting an abundance of facial hair.
It was initially mooted that the razors would come out after the club-record nine-match winning run came to an end with the 0-0 draw against Shrewsbury 13 days ago. But almost a fortnight on and the beards are bushier than ever.
Wolves need 15 points to guarantee promotion, meaning they could seal an immediate return to the Championship by Easter – or earlier, if Kenny Jackett's side win their matches and Leyton Orient drop points.
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And Stearman, who has formed an impressive partnership alongside Danny Batth at the back, is promising to keep the hairy look until going up is a mathematical certainty.
"I've grown attached to the beard," he said. "So we'll keep it going until we get promoted then we'll re-assess it.
"There are still eight games left, so we have to stay professional and be committed to seeing the job out.
"We're hoping to be promoted – that's the aim – and until that's mathematically achieved there can be no let-up."
The big talking point for tomorrow's clash at Milton Keynes Dons is the record-breaking travelling support, with 8,800 tickets sold to Wolves fans as stadium:mk will be swathed in gold and black to become a mini-Molineux.
But while Wolverhampton-born Stearman enjoys the size and passion of the support, he is determined it won't place the players under any additional pressure.
"We'll have great travelling support which is something we really appreciate and there should be a great atmosphere down there," said Stearman.
"We don't fear any opposition – we're not top for no reason and we're confident going into the game that we'll get three points."
Wolves are anxious to repeat their performance of the first 55 minutes from Tuesday's 4-2 see-saw win against Colchester rather than the nervy last 35.
Stearman admits Wolves weren't good enough during a period when they retreated deeper and deeper to allow the Us, who had been trailing 3-0, an unlikely route back into the game.
"The gaffer wasn't best pleased, but we know ourselves it wasn't good enough," said the former England Under-21 international.
"For all our good play in the first half we took our foot off the gas.
"We came out quite well at the start of the second half but we gave away one goal then gave away another which has been quite unlike us this season.
"We're not just going to be able to blow teams away and get three points, so we'll learn from this and go again.
"With all the games coming so thick and fast, it's pretty relentless.
"We've had a lot of games this month, but we're still looking forward to them.
"Teams have seemed to step up their performances against us and we've managed to overcome that so far.
"We've had to face teams who have maybe added five or 10 per cent to their game and still come away with three points. Everyone wants the Wolves' scalp."
