Express & Star

Wolves won't let standards slip for Molineux party, says Carl Ikeme

Carl Ikeme today insisted Wolves' promotion party tomorrow won't be a "jolly up" for the players – for 30,000 reasons.

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Kenny Jackett's side are determined not to allow standards to slip after clinching promotion from League One and want to secure the title as Molineux prepared for its first 30,000 crowd in over 33 years.

And keeper Ikeme, who sealed a club record 24th clean sheet in a league season with last week's 2-0 win at Crewe, maintained Wolves will continue to give everything in their quest for more glory.

"There's talk of maybe 30,000 coming tomorrow and it's certainly not going to be a jolly-up – we know all our fans will want to see us win," said Ikeme, whose appearance tomorrow will be his 100th for the club.

"We want to put a performance on and will give our best efforts as we always do.

"There are four games left and we've got to carry on and keep it going because we want to win the league.

"We don't want to let our standards slip just because we're up.

"Our season isn't over – there are points to play for and we haven't won the league yet."

Ikeme believes the prospect of facing two of the best teams in League One over Easter – fourth-placed Rotherham then third-lying Leyton Orient away on Easter Monday (12.15pm), is the ideal challenge to keep their standards sky-high.

"We've performed well in the big games recently and these are the perfect ones to have after promotion because you know you can't afford to rest on your laurels," he said.

Looking ahead, Ikeme - a Championship title winner with Wolves in 2008-09 - backed Jackett's assertion that the current squad can step up to the higher level next season.

"We've got a young and exciting team here now, and I don't think the whole team needs strengthening," he said.

"The players here are young and getting better and I've got every confidence they can progress at the higher level.

"Hopefully we can all carry on improving and take it into next season."

As for the clean sheets record, modest Ikeme is happy to share the plaudits with his team-mates.

"Goalkeepers and defenders pride themselves on clean sheets but it's been a massive effort from everyone in the team," he said.

Sources say around 200 tickets remain in home areas for tomorrow's game while Rotherham have about 300 left.

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