‘Right up there’: Former Wolves winger makes Championship promotion prediction

Matt Jarvis believes Wolves’ recent form is cause for optimism and has backed them for promotion.

Wolves enjoyed a strong run before the international break, going six games unbeaten and collecting half of their 28 Championship points during that spell.

Former winger Jarvis was at last weekend’s draw with Wrexham and says he has been encouraged by their progress following a difficult spell after the previous international break.

“They had a really good start, followed by a little blip, and now they’re on the way back up,” he said, speaking on behalf of Midnite.

“I think the supporters can be very optimistic about what they’ve seen. I really like their pressing style, that’s what has impressed me most.

“I’ve watched them a few times this season and I really like the way they press as a collective unit.”

Jarvis travelled to the Racecourse Ground aboard the ‘Midnite Express’ alongside former Wolves team-mates Carl Ikeme and Steve Bull. The trio shared stories from their time at the club with 100 supporters who were given free travel to the game.

Fer Lopez has been one of Wolves’ standout performers this season after a difficult first campaign, which included a loan return to Celta Vigo. Jarvis believes the Spaniard has become a key figure.

“They’ve got exceptional players. Yes, they’ve had a couple of injuries, but Fer Lopez, for instance, has been outstanding,” he added.

“As a group, they are strong, and Wolves will be right up there come the end of the season.

“Winning games changes everything. Going into matchday after matchday expecting to lose is a horrible feeling, especially when you prepare well, feel confident, and then go a goal down and think, ‘Here we go again’. Whereas this season, they started positively, picked up wins, and that breeds confidence.

“For a player like Lopez, who wasn’t part of that Premier League campaign, he has arrived with a fresh mindset, everything is new and exciting, and his strong start spreads right through the squad.

Wolves are currently just a point behind the Championship’s top three and have an opportunity to build further momentum after the break, with three of their next opponents currently in the bottom six.

Jarvis believes they have the match-winners needed to sustain their promotion challenge and secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

He continued: “There are still quite a few lads who carried the mental weight of last season, which is tough to shake off, but freshening up the dressing room and adding top-level experience like Kieran Trippier has been fantastic for them.

“Once you start winning, everyone buys into the manager’s methods. The fans get behind the players, confidence rises, and that’s what I see with this team. Shifting that mentality isn’t easy, even for the supporters, because last season they turned up expecting defeat, whereas this year they arrive expecting three points. Finding that balance is crucial because it’s never as simple as people assume.

“Starting well is brilliant, but we’re only 20 to 25 percent into the season with a massive amount of football still to play.

“The Christmas period is chaotic, so having squad depth is paramount. Sometimes in this league it’s better to win one and lose one rather than draw two, purely for the points return.

“With the fixture turnaround, you can’t dwell on matches: if you win, brilliant, move on; if you lose, learn the lessons and focus on the next one. You need match-winners who can decide tight games, and this Wolves squad definitely has them.”