Stephen Ward urges Wolves fans to get behind team

Wolves' man of the moment Stephen Ward today urged the Molineux masses to recreate 'the Wigan experience' to help the players shoot down Sunderland this Sunday.

Ward is well aware the home ground is again likely to full of anxiety this weekend with boss Mick McCarthy under pressure after eight defeats in 10 games.

Black Cats Steve Bruce is also feeling the strain after fans chanted for his head after their 2-1 weekend defeat to Wigan.

But early Player of the Year contender Ward is convinced that if the fans back the team like they did in the 3-1 win against Wigan in their last appearance at Molineux, Wolves will be on their way to better things.

"It's important we all stick together," said the Ireland international.

"A lot of people saw how close the fans are and what a rapport they have with us as a group throughout that Wigan game especially, when the chips were down.

"Even when they scored, the crowd lifted us again, so it's important that we're all in it for the same reason, which is to stay in the Premier League.

"That's been the case since I've been here and since we've got promoted, and hopefully we can do a similar job to what we done last season."

Victory for Bolton at Tottenham on Saturday would put fourth bottom Wolves – who are two places and two points better off than last campaign – in the drop zone for the first time this season.

Ward believes Wolves shouldn't be fighting a relegation battle again but insists the players must improve.

"We believe we've strengthened enough to make sure we're not in that situation, but it's up to us as a group of players to do it," he said.

"We've got a group of players that can move us up the table."