Halford believes Wolverhampton Wanderers can beat the drop
Nov 28 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail
GREG Halford says Wolves can beat the drop but must start to deliver at Molineux.
Mick McCarthy’s side have won just once all season in front of their home supporters, losing to struggling West Ham and Portsmouth in the process.
Blues will present a sterner test and Halford knows it is vital McCarthy’s men get the three points.
“Teams like Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool aren’t going to make or break your season,” he said.
“Playing against teams like Birmingham and Portsmouth and the teams around you, that’s where we have to be picking up points.
“Our home form hasn’t been great this year but if we can do anything like what Stoke did last year we will be fine – there’s no reason why we can’t do it, the fans at Molineux are great.”
Stoke won ten and drew five of their 19 games at the Britannia Stadium last season as they finished 12th in the table after promotion from the Championship. Burnley have already picked up 16 points, whereas Wolves have only amassed five.
Halford though is confident Wolves have the quality to get out of trouble.
“This is the best squad that I’ve been in in the Premiership,” said the former Reading and Sunderland player.
“We’ve got depth and a big squad and anyone can come in and do a good job.
“We have been creating a lot of chances but we just need that killer instinct.”
Chelsea’s second goal – a header from Michael Essien – came from a corner and Halford admitted Wolves have been working hard on set-pieces ahead of the derby.
“We have been concentrating on set- pieces because we have conceded a lot this season,” he added. We’ve been working on them so it was disappointing to concede one like that.
“We tried to keep a solid shape and be patient because obviously they are going to have a lot of the ball but when we do get the ball we have to keep hold of it, and we didn’t do that.
“Chelsea are the top club in the country at the minute and it was tough going there. We went with a game plan – to concede as few as we could – but it didn’t work.
“We should have gone one up in the first five minutes but if you don’t put away those chances teams like Chelsea will punish you.”
