Wanderers form not an issue for Buckle

Pressure is mounting on manager Stale Solbakken after three league defeats in a row have seen Wolves, who were in the Premier League last season, drop to 18th in the Championship.

But Buckle said: “I’d rather not comment on the opposition and be respectful to their manager and their club. They’re a huge club, great tradition and all I’m looking forward to is a really good game and one where we can show what we’re all about.

“We put that to the side. The last thing we can think is because they’re on a poor run it’s going to be easy for us, it’s not.

“There’s a gulf in the players, a gulf in budget and a gulf in where they are and where we are, so we know we’ve got to make sure we play to our very best levels for 90 plus minutes.

“You always know when you play against better opposition, you give them a chance and they’ll take it because they’ve got some class players in their team and I’m sure their manager will be looking at this to try and turn their fortunes around.

“We’ve been a little bit stop start this season, no more than last time out (against Woking). We let ourselves down, so we want to go out and have a real go and hopefully with the pressure being off we can do that.”

For once the pressure will firmly be off Town, something they very rarely experience in the Conference if ever, and Buckle is aware they will be viewed as a potential banana skin by their opponents.

He continued: “We’re the favourites in every game we go into. That’s pressure for the players and this time the pressure is on the players at Wolves.

“They won’t be relishing coming to play lower opposition, it’s tough. I’ve been in that situation many times before and this season, where you have to guard against it.

“You’re hopeful that your players recognise it’s going to be a tough game and don’t take any liberties.

“The other thing you say is we have to play to our very best and they have to have an off day, but we have got a lot of things in our favour.

“There’s a freshness about us because the team has to change. We’ve got (Scott) Neilson and (Simon) Ainge who can’t play and we’ve got a couple of injuries as well.

“It’s going to be a great occasion and one that we’re looking forward to.”

Buckle is also delighted that Town’s fans will get the chance to finally come up against a packed away end with Wolves selling over 1,500 tickets as the game is on the verge of being a sell out.

He added: “I’ve seen that once before in the play-offs against Wrexham and that was an unbelievable atmosphere. We really can count on them. If we start the game well and stay in the game we’ll give our fans hope that we can win.

“It’s a wonderful occasion and certainly one we need to play our part in.

“Normally we don’t get too many away supporters. I’m sure Wolves will bring enough and it will be nice for all our fans. It’s not so long ago they were playing against the likes of Wolves so I hope we can put on a show for them.”

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