Express & Star

Steve Bull: Belief is crucial for Nuno’s Wolves

Wolves are looking to stop the rot at Crystal Palace today – and it is vital they go into it still firmly believing in themselves.

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If they keep plugging away and stick to what they know they can do, things will return to normal.

It has not been a great period, there is no getting away from that. It has been a disappointing few weeks.

But I was encouraged by what I saw against Braga on Thursday night. It was a lot better than the defeat to Chelsea last weekend.

Nuno’s side showed flashes of what they are all about, although poor finishing – rushing our shots a bit too much – and another mistake at the back cost us in the end.

It is all about taking your chances, and this is a true test of their character.

Let’s hope that they are able to come up with an emphatic reaction and not make it four losses on the bounce, which would be a first under Nuno.

It will not be easy, we know that. Palace, under Roy Hodgson, are well-drilled, good at home and have dangerous players that can punish you before you know it on the counter-attack.

Back in my playing days, Selhurst Park was a tough place to go, so Wolves will have to be on their A-game.

Nuno, I am sure, will be sticking to his principles – and so he should. The last thing we want to do is panic, change our approach and get away from what served us so well last season.

It has been a difficult run of fixtures for Wolves, let’s not forget, and things can change so quickly in football. A win at Palace would come as a huge confidence boost and, who knows, could start a run of positive results to push us up the table.

If we lose, then you have to think the League Cup game against Reading becomes less about fielding the fringe players and, instead, playing the big boys to give us the best chance of getting a much-needed victory under our belts.

Finally, I’d just like to say thanks to everyone who turned out at the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Friday night to watch me go through my career highs and lows with Johnny Phillips. Let’s get those three points in the bag!