Wolves striker Nouha Dicko's shock and delight at late call-up and goal

The striker only found out at 7.35pm that he was in Paul Lambert's starting line up against Nottingham Forest, owing to Helder Costa injuring himself in the warm-up.

But two hours later, Dicko was Wolves' match-winner, having scored the only goal of the game.

Not that Dicko was devastated to miss out on a pre-match warm up.

"I'm someone who doesn't like to do the warm-ups!" he told the Express & Star.

"It was 10 or 15 minutes before kick-off when I found out I'd be playing. Helder did his injury late before the kick off so I didn't have time to get warm.

"No-one is happy to be on the bench but I was telling myself if I came on, I'd do my best.

"I was quite surprised that I was going to start, but confident at the same time.

"It took me 30 minutes to get into the game, I just tried to stay focused and do my best.

"As a footballer you can't have excuses, I just wanted to do well because I know Helder is a key player for us this season.

"No-one wants to see him out, I was thinking I need to do as well as him. Thankfully I scored and everyone is happy. I'm sure Helder is happy for as well.

"It was a good night for me and the club, hopefully we can keep going."

The goal was Dicko's second since his injury comeback in October. He admitted he should have scored more than he has.

"I've been quite unlucky sometimes and then not unlucky sometimes and made the wrong choice, the Brentford game when I hit the crossbar, I've had the chances sometimes but not done the right thing," he added.

"As a striker the most important thing is to get the chances and be a threat.

"It was quite an easy chance but I had to be there to score. I'm delighted Andi Weimann had the awareness to cross and play for the team and not for himself.

"It was really important to get the three points. They caused us some problems and tried to play good football. We're just delighted to win.

"Every game, every month and every season is different in football. We're just delighted to be on this run, we want to carry on.

Dicko was clearly emotional after netting his winner. It was his first goal since February and his second in 25 appearances since making his comeback from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

He looked to be in tears as he celebrated, as the frustration of a barren few months exploded.

The 24-year-old said of his emotions: "As a striker you just want to score. I haven't managed to score a lot of goals this season, I love to score and it was a great feeling.

"I always try to do my best. I'm delighted to finally get another goal and hopefully I have some more before the end of the season.

"I've had the chances this season, sometimes I didn't do the right thing, this time it was quite easy and I'd like to thank my team mates who've supported me and congratulated me at the end of the game.

"I managed to be there and score but it's not only me, it's the team, and I'm just happy with the three points."

Wolves now travel to Ashton Gate looking to win a sixth consecutive game and continue their rise up the Championship table.

Dicko said confidence was sky high among the players - and that he'd seen an improvement in the team in recent weeks.

"The confidence is really high at the moment," he said.

"We've improved since a few weeks ago. We're maybe disappointed we didn't manage to do it for the whole season. We were not consistent. If we get this consistency now it would be great. We are where we are, hopefully we keep going and we'll see where we finish.

"We have Bristol City (away on Saturday) which is another massive game.

"If we get the three points we put them further behind us. After this game we'll see where we are."

"It was really important to get the three points against Forest.

"It wasn't the best game but we managed to stay strong to stay in the game. Maybe two months ago we'd have lost this type of game, I think of Wigan.

"They caused us some problems and tried to play good football. We're just delighted to win.

"Football is like a rollercoaster sometimes and it was like this (in the minute before Dicko's goal)...when Assombalonga missed I knew Conor would clear it, I just had a feeling. I didn't have the feeling I'd score straight after! That's what's good in football, you go from one feeling to another.

"I'm sure the fans enjoyed it. We showed the spirit we have."