'A big positive' but has relegation 'set in'?

Rob Edwards' first game in charge did not bring a new manager bounce, as Wolves lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace. However, there were clear signs of what he got right, along with some things he got wrong.

First, the shape was a big positive. Wolves looked compact, organised, and refused to be rolled over. Palace needed a huge slice of luck for Muñoz's tap-in and a brilliant strike from Yeremy Pino. Apart from that, we did not give up many clear chances, which has not been the case for most of this season. There was real fight, grit, and hunger in the way we defended.

Edwards also did what many fans have been begging for. He started Jørgen Strand Larsen and Tolu Arokodare together. That was the right call. The pair linked up a few times and gave us a real presence at both ends, especially when defending set pieces. The idea of the partnership is promising.

The big problem was what they had around them. We used two strikers without a real creator behind them. Tolu and Strand Larsen want balls to feet and good crosses, not hopeful long balls and scraps. Marshall Munetsi works hard, but he does not have the vision or passing to unlock a defence. Leaving a more creative option like Fer Lopez on the bench felt like a mistake, and the result was simple. We did not create enough.

Then came the changes, and these did not add anything to the game. Taking Tolu off was probably down to fitness rather than performance, but Hwang's sloppy giveaway before the second goal summed the day up. If we were chasing a goal, bringing on someone like Fer Lopez or Hugo Bueno made far more sense. The truth is, the answer to our creativity problem may not be in this squad at all.

I worry we will be so far adrift by January that the board will not invest, and that quiet acceptance of relegation has already set in. Wolves are averaging 0.16 points per game. If that form continues all season, we finish on six points. That is damning.

Overall, the performance showed more steel, but the attack is still blunt. Edwards needs time, and a full week on the training ground before Villa away should tell us more. The base looks better. Now he has to find a spark.

These problems did not appear overnight, and they will not be fixed overnight. Our custodians have failed to plan or invest properly, and it is difficult, maybe impossible, to overcome this.

Find more from Emma Milton at Always Wolves