Wolves must keep it solid, says Richard Stearman
Sep 19 2008 by Ken Montgomery, Birmingham Mail
RICHARD Stearman today insisted Wolves’ defence will continue to “quietly” go about their jobs at Preston tomorrow – and hope the attackers keep on hogging the headlines.
With 16 goals from five league games, Wolves are on fire and brimming with confidence as they prepare to visit third-placed Preston.
The Lancashire club will pose the biggest threat yet to Mick McCarthy’ side.
Against opposition who are also unbeaten, Wolves can expect to come under pressure at times.
So centre-half Stearman and his defensive colleagues are on a mission to throw a steady cordon round goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey – and enable those headline-hoggers to get busy further forward.
“We are very happy to let the lads up front have all the accolades,” he said.
“They are electric at the moment and it’s great to see. A lot of nice things have been said about our attacking football and rightly so.
“At the back we will just carry on going quietly about our business. Things have gone well so far, especially considering we have had a few injuries.
“Neil Collins has come in and done a great job in the middle, Kevin Foley has been solid as a rock on the right and Stephen Ward has come in on the left and done well.
“With Wayne behind us, as a five at the back we have just got to stay solid. It’s nice to play good football going forward but we need to keep that foundation firm at the back.”
Stearman has settled quickly into Wolves’ team following his switch from Leicester and he aims to extend the happy record he enjoyed at Deepdale with the Foxes.
“Touch wood it’s been quite a happy hunting ground for me,” he said.
“I have not been on the losing side there yet and one season we went up there and got a really big result which made us safe.”
“But you never get an easy game at Preston. They have started the season well and I know Rob Kelly, their assistant manager, well from my time at Leicester and he will have them sell-drilled.
“It will be a tough game but so were Ipswich and Charlton away and we did a job on them. We are confident against whoever we play.
“The Palace game on Tuesday was scrappier than some we have had but it showed we can dig in and get results which is what we will often have to do.”
