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Wolves defender Stephen Ward ready for high-pressure Liverpool showdown
The Ireland left-back also says his side must look to turn their better performances into points as they look to climb out of the Premier League relegation battle
30 Jan 2012 15:46:00
By Alex Richards
Getty Images
Wolves defender Stephen Ward has called on his team-mates to embrace the pressure of taking on Liverpool at Molineux, as they look for a vital three points in their quest for Premier League survival.
Wolves have struggled for wins this season and, following a disappointing 3-2 reverse against Aston Villa last time round, have fallen into the bottom three.
But Ward, who scored the winner when Wolves won at Anfield last season, says that his team-mates are used to being in such a situation and need to come out fighting once more.
"The lads are used to dealing in pressure situations and knowing how important games are," Ward told the clubs official website
"We had plenty of games like this last season. It's just important we turn performances into points.
"I know we can say that things have gone against us but in some ways it just seems that if it is not one thing it is another.
"Every game then becomes even more pressure - it has been that way all season now.
"We have played well at times and just not got the reward for our performances, which was definitely the case against Villa last weekend and it now puts more emphasis on this game.
"We've just got to work harder because playing like we did we definitely thought we should have got some points from the game."
Ward was also keen to stress his backing for manager Mick McCarthy, who has been under-fire for a large part of the season by a large section of Wolves supporters, who reckon that the side hasn't been sufficiently improved.
"We are all in it together and the manager is in it with us," continued Ward.
"We know every morning that when we turn up for work and the gaffer is here he puts a smile on our faces and gets us ready for the next game as best he can - like he always has done.
"There are always going to be rumours when a team is down near the bottom, of managers and players coming in and out.
"A lot of people need to know that we are in this Premier League and a lot of that is down to the gaffer.
"He took on Wolves when we were at a real low. Within two or three years he had us fighting for promotion and then winning the league. It is now our third season in the Premier League and if we can stay up this year then it is another year of stability.
"We are well capable of getting out of it and we have shown before that we can get through tough times like this.
"And with the gaffer at the helm there is no reason why we can't do it again."
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Wolves have struggled for wins this season and, following a disappointing 3-2 reverse against Aston Villa last time round, have fallen into the bottom three.
But Ward, who scored the winner when Wolves won at Anfield last season, says that his team-mates are used to being in such a situation and need to come out fighting once more.
"The lads are used to dealing in pressure situations and knowing how important games are," Ward told the clubs official website
"We had plenty of games like this last season. It's just important we turn performances into points.
"I know we can say that things have gone against us but in some ways it just seems that if it is not one thing it is another.
"Every game then becomes even more pressure - it has been that way all season now.
"We have played well at times and just not got the reward for our performances, which was definitely the case against Villa last weekend and it now puts more emphasis on this game.
"We've just got to work harder because playing like we did we definitely thought we should have got some points from the game."
Ward was also keen to stress his backing for manager Mick McCarthy, who has been under-fire for a large part of the season by a large section of Wolves supporters, who reckon that the side hasn't been sufficiently improved.
"We are all in it together and the manager is in it with us," continued Ward.
"We know every morning that when we turn up for work and the gaffer is here he puts a smile on our faces and gets us ready for the next game as best he can - like he always has done.
"There are always going to be rumours when a team is down near the bottom, of managers and players coming in and out.
"A lot of people need to know that we are in this Premier League and a lot of that is down to the gaffer.
"He took on Wolves when we were at a real low. Within two or three years he had us fighting for promotion and then winning the league. It is now our third season in the Premier League and if we can stay up this year then it is another year of stability.
"We are well capable of getting out of it and we have shown before that we can get through tough times like this.
"And with the gaffer at the helm there is no reason why we can't do it again."
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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