Dave Edwards: Lethargic Wolves below par and now face huge Burnley test

The Everton cup game, Spurs and Brighton were all better performances with a change in formation.

Wolves were more dangerous going forward in all those games and we looked solid defensively. We were unlucky not to get an additional four points if we could have held on in those matches.

The Sunderland game felt big and I felt the international break came at the worst possible time as Wolves were gaining momentum, not just because of what had gone on previously but having a long trip up north when players had played all over the world and came back to training late.

For a team that has been struggling and has got pressure on them, it could go against them. You don't want to use these things as excuses but when you look at the way Wolves started in the game, they did look lethargic and leggy. 

This season, when Wolves haven't started well, they've really struggled to get back into games and for the first 25 minutes they didn't lay a glove on Sunderland.

The hosts gave Wolves an early warning with Wilson Isidor's disallowed goal before Nordi Mukiele took his chance. There are moments where Wolves have switched off and Marshall Munetsi was caught ball-watching, Matt Doherty couldn't recover quick enough and Wolves are behind.

I think Sam Johnstone should have done a little bit better but it was very unlucky from his perspective the way it went in. Sunderland probably deserved that and the rest of the first half was a non-event.

There were lots of long throw-ins, no rhythm in the game, which Wolves crave when they want to be a bit more of a possession-based team and try to sustain some attacks every time they did get the ball.

It was a poor first half but they did come out fighting in the second half. Sunderland wanted to protect that lead and dropped a little bit deeper and that allowed Wolves to have more of the ball and they started to create some more chances.

Rodrigo Gomes was always looking to hurt Sunderland down that left-hand side and he had a couple of half-chances on his left foot. Joao Gomes had a good chance which he really snapped at, Munetsi had a decent volley which forced the only save and Jackson Tchatchoua had a good chance later on in the game but it was a desperately poor finish.

Wolves huffed and puffed and didn't have enough quality. The Sunderland second goal then summed up the way things are going for Wolves at the moment.

They messed up a corner routine, couldn't keep the attack alive, and it's a farcical own goal. It was unlucky for Ladislav Krejci because he had another good game, but the cross wasn't really going anywhere, he feels like he needs to intercept it and ends up in the back of our goal.

It was a game that came down to moments and Wolves will have to be a whole lot better in every department if they want to get out of the mess they're in.

It was a really disappointing afternoon up in the North East, especially for the fans that travelled, they didn't get a performance to match their efforts.

But the beautiful thing about football is you get another game quickly and it's another massive one for Wolves as Burnley come to Molineux.

Vitor Pereira needs to sort out where the goals are going to come from, with just five scored in their eight Premier League games.

They need to offer more from a creative point of view and they need to be a lot more clinical. There are capable players there who are not at the required level and they look very gun-shy.

We must start fast against Burnley and when we have in previous games, we've done well. The players need to get the Molineux crowd behind them - their backs are up against the walls now and Pereira needs his men to come out fighting.

If there's any adversity in the game they have to stick together because it'll be a difficult atmosphere at Molineux.

They have to be brave, demand the ball and want to be the one that tries to make things happen. Be the player that wins the game for Wolves, not the one that worries about making a mistake or being the fall guy.

It's a huge game on Sunday, followed by some tough games with Chelsea in the cup and then Fulham and Chelsea away in the league.

That makes Sunday even more important and it's as close as you'll get to an October must-win.