Shropshire Star

Mel Eves: Wolves will be eager to put things right

Former Wolves star Mel Eves says Nuno Espirito Santo’s players will be itching to put things right in Monday’s Black Country derby.

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Wolves are getting ready to face fierce rivals Albion at The Hawthorns on the back of a humiliating 4-0 loss to Burnley.

And Eves – who made 214 appearances in gold and black, scoring 53 goals – believes they will come up with an impassioned response against Sam Allardyce’s side, avoiding a second derby defeat to the Baggies this season.

“The players will want to put that right, definitely,” he said.

“And Big Sam will probably be thinking that was the worst result for Albion going into this game, with Wolves getting beaten so badly.

“He knows that professional pride will kick in and Wolves will be up for having a real go.

“Those players won’t want to be labelled. A loss like that does hurt your professional pride.

“So, I do expect Wolves to respond positively and be well up for it.”

Wolves lost 3-2 to Albion at Molineux in January. The Baggies are desperate for a win this time around, too, in order to keep their slim survival hopes alive.

Eves also feels Nuno will largely stick with the same team that started the thrashing at the hands of the Clarets, trusting them to bounce back.

Victory at The Hawthorns would lift spirits after a tough campaign on the whole for Wolves.

“I can’t see him changing too much,” added Eves.

“Maybe if Joao Moutinho is back fit, he might come in. But the players will want the opportunity to put it right.

“They’ll be upset over what happened against Burnley, upset with themselves.

“They’ll reset as a collective, reset as a dressing room, and they’ll want to put it right – especially for the fans.”