Adam Armstrong is hoping the players and fans will come together under the lights at Molineux on Friday night so Wolves can earn three big points in the latest West Midlands derby.
The forward will experience his first derby between the Old Gold and Aston Villa following his move from Southampton last month, with the hosts looking at extending their positive home record against their local rivals.
After falling to defeat in the reverse fixture at Villa Park earlier this season – despite Wolves producing one of their best displays of the campaign – Armstrong insists Rob Edwards’ squad will be trying everything possible to get the result they deserve this time around.
On missing out on points last weekend
“We felt like it was missed opportunity. I said after the game that I thought we were very good in the first half, but we just missed that goal. There are moments in games which are massive, and it can sway both ways.
“In the second half, I thought we dug deep with 10 men, which is always difficult in the Premier League. To concede quite late on was obviously a tough one to take and we came away from the game thinking we should have got three points there.
“But now it’s about how we move on, it’s how we react and we’ve got to get it out of our systems and go again.”
On losing out in tight matches
“That’s the quality in this league. I’ve seen it this year, especially with Wolves, but with a lot of other teams, where moments have just killed games.
“I’ve seen teams who are dominating games, but you just get a bit of brilliance out of someone from the other team, something out of nowhere, and it switches the game and the other team then go on to win.
“But you have to take your chances in this league. That’s the biggest thing I’ve seen with my experience now; you have to taking your chances.”
On facing Aston Villa on Friday night
“With all the local teams around us, we have to take this as a derby game. For me, being a football fan myself, derbies mean so much, and it’s great when you can beat the teams around you. We know what a great side Villa are and how well they’re doing this season, but I think we’ve shown in the last few games the quality that we have, that we can bring to hurt teams.
“But it goes back to moments in games where you have to try and take your chances, and I’m sure on Friday, everyone will be looking forward to the game, the atmosphere with the fans and something that we will be thriving off.
“This is why you play the game for moments like these. When you’re playing rivals or derbies, or you’re involved in big games, this is why we play football; to be in the best games, to be in the biggest games, and Friday night, under the lights, is unbelievable, and we’ll be going out there to try and get the three points.”
On aiming to dent Villa’s European hopes
“If you look this year, it’s been quite open. It hasn’t been like that for a while in the Premier League, and with the quality that Villa are showing at the minute, they’re at the top for a reason.
“I’m sure they’ll have full belief that they can damage teams and try and get to the top. But at a club like that, you have to think like that, because every other club’s trying to beat you
“We’re going to go out there Friday and try to win the game, because we’ve got a lot of pride to play for and we still want to get a lot more points, so hopefully it’s a very fun game for the fans.”
On his first few weeks at the club
“I’ve loved it. I knew Rob for his time at Boro and at Luton, and they’re always hard working and good sides. I was excited and delighted that I could have the chance to come here.
“‘Trolls’ [Paul Trollope], his assistant, was with me at Southampton so we always had good chats about football in general, and I knew that he was close to Rob. When I saw that happen, I thought, ‘Oh, I might have a little chance of coming here’, but I’m over the moon to be here. I spent a long time at Southampton, and I’ve got nothing but good words to say about them, but I thought for the next stage of my career, to come here was a massive opportunity. Playing the Premier League again and then see where it goes from there.
“I’ll be brutally honest. I never thought I would have had the chance to be back in this league again. I was at Southampton at the start the season and we didn’t start too great. I’ve got a good record in the Championship, but I thought getting to my late 20s now, it’s quite hard to then come from the Championship back to the Premier League.
“When the opportunity came about, I was over the moon, but now I’m trying to put a stamp on what I can bring to the team. I feel like I’ve done that in the first few games where you’re always going to get 100% from me and try and create chances, but I’m in the best league in the world, so I’ve got to always be on my game, and that’s something I try and do every game.”
On learning off former Wolves leaders
“The biggest for me was Sam Ricketts, when I was on loan at Coventry, and then Elliott Bennett when I went to Blackburn. The roles that they show on and off the pitch, you see the hard work every day that they’re putting on the pitch, but off the pitch, they’re ready for a laugh and it’s all about getting that balance.
“Those two were massive in my career, and to see that side of it and see other things that go on, whether the lads need help off the pitch, or something as simple as going for a coffee and seeing how people are, they were brilliant at that. So, I’ve learned a lot from them.
“I’m not part of that [Wolves’ player leadership group] because I’m only a couple weeks in here, but we’ve got a great squad and a great bunch of lads who help each other every day, try and push each other every day, which is the main thing. We know the situation that we’re in, but you come and train every day, everyone wants to be there and try and work as hard as they can to turn things around and put in good results.”
