Fan column: Preston win a good start, but no guarantee of a revival

Of course, it’s ridiculously early and patently unwise to correlate a couple of initial games with how an entire season is likely to pan out.

But the result at Preston and the nature of how the win was achieved was much needed from a Wolves perspective.

Coming to terms with relegation after a humiliating season with just a meagre three wins hardly leads to any sort of winning mentality.

Not a single victory until January; such a consistent tally of failure must take its toll.

Factor in too, all the fruitless trips on the road since the win at Old Trafford way back in April last year.

Pablo Sarabia’s sensational winner that day a pleasant but very distant memory.

The disappointing opening encounter with Blackburn did nothing to inspire optimism either; the second half of the game desperately reminiscent of so much we had to endure during the last campaign.

Blackburn subdued Wolves every bit as comfortably as most Premier opponents had done and that was the major genuine concern.

The positive response at Deepdale comes as a relief and at least offers a basis for optimism.

The performance wasn’t perfect and North End like Blackburn were tipped by many pre-season pundits as likely strugglers, but for Wolves, this was a promising step forward.

Fer Lopez understandably took most of the plaudits and already at this level he clearly carries the ability to be a highly influential performer.

But he was ably supported by a number of his colleagues who regardless of their travails from last season should at the very least be competitive operators at this level.

With Jordan James assimilated and with any possible late additions through the transfer window Wolves can’t have any excuses.

Leicester’s catastrophic spiral downwards is evidence if it was needed, that no demoted Premier League team is granted an easy ride in Championship football.

There are no guarantees and patience can be a virtue.

Mike Bailey, who sadly passed, so recently led Wolves to promotion in his first full season as a brilliant player and outstanding captain.

Back in 1966-67, Wolves achieved their aim seemingly without too much stress, yet the team won only one of their opening five games.

There was no panic and with Bailey’s increasing influence hugely significant, the target was achieved.

Molineux will pay tribute to him prior to the game on Saturday.

What an incalculable contribution he made to Wolves.