Terry Connor: Wolves must remain positive

Wolves boss Terry Connor today urged his players to defy their critics and crush any negative vibe from the fans that they are going down.

Supporters are desperate to see the team secure a fourth successive season in the Premier League but many fear the worst with Wolves a point below the safety line after the limp defeats against Fulham and Blackburn and hosting champions Manchester United on Sunday.

Connor is convinced Wolves will stay up again and has been preaching a positive mantra all week on the training ground, which has been reflected in an upbeat mood among the players.

And whatever the feeling on the street, the manager is determined it won't seep into the players' mentality after they avoided the drop for two years running.

"Did we go down last year, or the year before?" said Connor.

"Did people have that same psyche then of: 'We're going to go down?'

"Is that the same psyche we're seeing now: 'drop into the bottom three and that's them gone?'

"We're in the same group every year. But that's why we're here working – to get out of it.

"That's part and parcel of our job which is to get ourselves above that dotted line.

"Other people have their own opinions. I can't affect that. All we can affect is what we do here.

"And for two years, for all the outside psyche, that hasn't influenced what we've believed here."

Meanwhile, Connor believes Stephen Hunt's battling characteristics are exactly what Wolves need now.

The Ireland winger has received the all-clear to return to training after his hernia scare a week ago.

"He went to see the specialist at the end of last week but he said he was OK and just needed to work through it," said the boss.

"Hunty's great to have around because even when he doesn't make the starting XI, he's still a positive presence around the dressing room and the club.

"That's invaluable when you're in the situation we're in. Those are the type of people we need to stay above the dotted line."

See also:

• Terry Connor is looking up for Wolves drop fight

• Terry Connor is eyeing up Manchester United win

• Wolves have let the fans down – Stephen Ward