Delight as Wolves' Under-23s dig in to keep up title tilt

Edwards watched his young Wolves keep their Premier League 2 Division Two title hopes alive with a 2-1 success over Stoke City last night.

They sit at the top of the table – ahead of Reading on goal difference – with one game left to play, at Manchester United a week on Friday.

Third-placed Southampton are one point behind with two games to go, but Wolves ramped up the pressure on the Saints ahead of their clash with Albion on Thursday.

Dion Sanderson and Ed Francis struck either side of Daniel Jarvis's goal for the Potters, and Edwards is proud of his charges for showing character and claiming the victory despite not being at their best.

"It shows a lot because you can never be outstanding all of the time throughout the season. To be fair to the boys every time they have performed here (at Molineux) this season, they have been very good, so that was the first below-par performance we have had," said Edwards.

"So, to still get the win is really pleasing. The players were delighted because they found a way to win, and that's what football is about in the end, especially at the level they're playing at, because the next level is where it really does matter, and they're learning that now.”

There were 2,934 at Molineux as Francis's late strike sealed an important triumph for Wolves, who were without key players in Max Kilman and Niall Ennis.

“It was a big victory, and it was great to get the win. I spoke to the lads about the importance of winning, especially at this stage of the season, because that's what it is about," said Edwards.

"I was a little bit disappointed at the manner of it because we didn't perform at our best.

“I thought we were a bit passive and probably a little bit too easy to play against, probably for the majority of the game.

"We stepped it up a bit towards the end and pressed them higher, and managed to get more pressure on the ball.

“It was fantastic to win the game, but we rode our luck a little bit and sometimes you have to do that.

"It's great to get the three points when you're not at your best, which we weren't.”

If Wolves do not finish top of the pile, they'll have to try to achieve promotion through the play-offs.

"We put the pressure on, and the ball is back in Southampton's court now and that's all we can do," added Edwards.

"If we finish second or third, then we know the semi-finals will be here (at Molineux) as well.

"Let's aim for the highest finish possible, and see what comes of it.”