Liam Keen comment: Wolves away displays, forward options and planning for the future

A resolute performance almost resulted in a point and to what extend they can maintain that level will play a part in the outcome as they take on Brentford at Molineux this weekend.

Away display

Wolves fans have every right to protest and make their voices heard, but difficult atmospheres at Molineux definitely impact the team.

As a result, the two best performances in Edwards' five games in charge have both come away from home at Villa and Arsenal.

A different kind of pressure allows them to be more calm, compact, organised and disciplined in carrying out their game plan.

On top of that, Wolves are not expected to be expansive at Villa Park or the Emirates, meaning their shortcomings up front are somewhat disguised.

Against Arsenal that saw Wolves frustrate the hosts, be hard to break down and invite a positive reaction from the travelling fans before, during and after the late defeat in heartbreaking circumstances.

It also has to be said that carrying out the game plan relies on good individual performances and Joao Gomes was superb.

Edwards said: "He is an important player, he's really good.

"He was excellent. I thought his timing of when to go, some of his regains were brilliant. 

"He was aggressive at the right times and then he gave us a little bit of either a counter-attacking option or a bit of calm and was able to give us a little bit of the ball and take the sting out of the game. He was really good."

Forward options

Jorgen Strand Larsen is an excellent footballer that scored 14 Premier League goals last season, but is currently starved of service and finding life in this Wolves team difficult.

He is working hard, but also needs to make himself a bit more of a nuisance for defenders and hopefully something will drop for him.

He was slightly better against Arsenal but still needs to find a way to be more impactful and Tolu Arokodare did that from the bench with his equaliser.

The Nigerian also has his shortcomings from a technical perspective, but took his chance, and the debate is raging among fans whether Arokodare should now be given the nod from the start. 

When asked if Larsen was suffering from a crisis of confidence, Edwards said: "No, I just think this is how it can go for strikers.

"I thought he scored a great goal at Villa the other week and obviously got chalked out with the offside decision. 

"He's fighting and working really hard for the team and good things will come. 

"If you keep working really hard as he is, then good things will come."

Hwang Hee-chan was given a recall to replace Jhon Arias and was certainly more impactful as he ran the channels, put himself about and nearly scored.

From the bench, Fer Lopez did well on the ball but was poor defensively by not stopping the cross for the winner, while Mateus Mane enjoyed the moment of his short career so far with an assist.

Edwards has decisions to make on where he goes next with his starting forwards at home to Brentford.

Looking ahead

Despite putting in a better performance, Wolves ultimately lost the game, have two points from 16 matches and sit cut adrift at the bottom of the Premier League.

Planning will be taking place for the likelihood that Wolves will be relegated to the Championship and that will have to come into Edwards' thinking for his team selection in the coming weeks and months.

Mane is a player - aged 18 and still inexperienced - who has been trusted from the bench and is expected to get even more minutes as the season progresses.

Meanwhile, the head coach must identify those players he can count on for next season and begin to put practices in place for a promotion push.

That will also certainly come into the club's thinking for January, which is set to be a fascinating month for the football club.