Terry Connor walks through Wolves storm with hope

Terry Connor is a man full of hope. Hope that one lucky break in a game in Wolves' favour could yet rescue their Premier League lives.

Last Saturday, the Wolves boss witnessed an improvement in performance in the 2-1 defeat at Norwich to confirm the players still believe they can keep the club up.

Now the beleaguered Molineux chief is chasing the sort of break that led to the Canaries' penalty winner – Eggert Jonsson's handball from Wes Hoolahan's shot – to kickstart his side's recover against Bolton tomorrow.

Asked what it's going to take to make up that four-point gap to the safety line, Connor said: "We've got to be competitive in every game.

"It might take a deflected shot, it might take a cross to sail over the keeper's head – anything to give us a break.

"We have to force that cross or that deflection – someone is going to have to shoot and the ball bounces in the other corner of the net.

"Maybe it will be a goalline clearance or maybe Wayne Hennessey will save a penalty – something will happen for us to break it.

"Sometimes you need that. You can work 100 per cent diligently and prepare so everything is right, but sometimes something changes, and we're looking for that spark, that change, that little bit of luck, something to go our way.

"And that could change the whole set of the next eight results.

"If we want to change it, we have to change it.

"We've had games where we've fought back and done it, but it's getting to a point now where we need one of those to go for us.

"And if you're doing everything you possibly can in your preparation and doing everything right, that little spark might be there for you.

"If you shy away from it and you give up and fall away, then that spark will never come. So we've got to approach these next eight games with that in mind and que ce sera, sera."

Wolves return to Molineux in the worst losing home run in their history after six successive defeats in front of their own fans.

Few would have thought the current run possible during the highly-charged, high-tempo defeats by the odd goal to Chelsea and Villa. The manner and scale of the subsequent home collapses to Liverpool, Albion, Blackburn and Manchester United have been more uncharacteristic of the spirit fostered under Connor and former boss Mick McCarthy.

But Connor believes the recent setbacks have masked better performances.

"When you get beat 5-0 at home to Manchester United, everyone looks at the result," he said. "But as I've said before, that slightly flattered Manchester United.

"Their finishing was excellent but our overall performance didn't reflect a 5-0 home loss. Even against West Brom, it wasn't until the 64th minute that they went 2-1 ahead and we had headed chances from Steven Fletcher and Roger Johnson at 3-1 down that could have changed it.

"It's always the outcome people see, and they don't always match that to the performance. And I felt we performed against Manchester United."

Connor maintains the only game of his five in charge where he has been let down in terms of a performance was the 5-0 drubbing by Fulham.

"Fulham was the one where we didn't perform, and myself and everyone in the dressing room held their hands up to that," he said.

"Blackburn at home was a little disappointing. We weren't poor on the day, but we didn't get things right and should have done more in the game."

See also:

• Richard Stearman tips old guard to halt Wolves slide

• Terry Connor: Time for Wolves to punch weight

• Terry Connor: Lay off boos for Roger Johnson