"It's obviously a tough job" - incoming Wolves boss warned of difficult task

Edwards will now replace Vitor Pereira, joining from Championship side Middlesbrough, and his first game will be after the international break when Crystal Palace come to Molineux.

Collins admits it is a difficult task for the new boss, but he has faith in the characters in the dressing room.

"It's obviously a tough job because the boys are at the bottom of the league," Collins said.

"What I would say to him is that the boys are together, they're working hard, they want to work on the training pitch. There's not little cliques, they're very together.

"That's a good place to start. Yes there is work to do and we have to improve, but there's a lot of games left this season and our season will not be defined by Chelsea away.

"You've got to pick points up in the big games and if they work as hard as that, and add quality to the game at times, they can pick points up and go up the league."

Wolves put in a spirited first half against Chelsea and were solid defensively, before opening up in the second half and conceding three.

The team also struggled for any threat in the final third.

Collins added: "I thought we had a foothold in the game because we defended well, were well-structured and hard to beat.

"What we probably didn't do in the first half is be clinical enough in our counter-attacks and reliable enough in our build-up, but we defended well, worked hard and we were connected and the plan was working.

"In the second half the first goal changed things and we became more open. It made us better with the ball but the back door was open and they took full advantage of that."

The interim head coach also made a big decision by leaving summer signing Fer Lopez out of the matchday squad and instead including academy players Tawanda Chirewa and Mateus Mane.

Collins said that was down to promoting the talent in the academy and giving them the right opportunities.

"It was a difficult call," Collins said.

"I take the under-21s at the club on a day-to-day basis and I think we have three or four players in that group that are highly talented boys.

"They happen to play around Fer Lopez's position, so having too many of that type of player on the bench probably wasn't the right call.

"I felt it was right for me to give Mane and Tawanda that place on the bench tonight because if I don't do that, what does that say about our academy?

"I work for our academy and I want our academy players to progress. 

"They are terrific players, as is Fer, and I'm sure the new manager will make his decision when he comes in, but I felt that was my opportunity to give our academy boys a chance. That's why I did it."