Wolves boss admits players confidence is low

Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Mick McCarthy's Ipswich left Solbakken's side 17th in the Championship after back-to-back festive home defeats without scoring.

Fans chanted 'what a load of rubbish' at the final whistle and 'you don't know what you're doing' after Solbakken replaced Kevin Doyle with Jermaine Pennant.

The defeat also completed a wretched 2012 which has seen Wolves lose 25 of the 43 league games in the calendar year, winning 10 and conceding 83 goals.

Solbakken confessed: "At the moment, we look a little bit scared and that must not be the case. Now we must show everyone we have the character.

"We have had the two worst performances of the season and it can't get any worse than these two games."

The team continues to under-perform and the Norwegian stressed the players are willing to do what he wants.

But the Wolves boss did suggest the more experienced players are struggling to cope with the change in style.

He declared: "I can say, straightaway, we are all in it together.

"Having said that, those who have been here for five, six or seven years will struggle with the change of style – especially when things are tough – more than players who come in later and are maybe more used to it. "

Solbakken believes the biggest problem is the battle that the players have with their own confidence.

He said: "When you keep playing one-touch football instead of controlling the ball, I don't think that has anything to do with style – it's more to do with winning over yourself.

"You play better when you're more confident."

Keith Hill at Barnsley became the third Championship manager in seven days to be sacked at the weekend.

But Solbakken believes his job is safe, despite Wolves languishing nine points off the play-offs and the same number off the drop zone.

He said: "I don't think that's the way to go – we are in the early phase of something and have to stay together."