Sport : Football

HENRY KEEN FOR HAPPY ENDING

5th May 2012, 01:26pm

Karl Henry: 'We've been poor at home'

Karl Henry: 'We've been poor at home'

Captain Karl Henry has challenged relegated Wolves to end their home programme on a high against Everton after admitting their form at Molineux this season has been "atrocious."

Wolves have lost nine successive Barclays Premier League matches in front of their own fans and last tasted a home victory against Sunderland in early December.

It is a run which sealed their fate in terms of losing their top flight status after three seasons and opposing teams have exploited their leaky defence.

Henry said: "Our home form has been atrocious this season and it would be good to send the fans home happy tomorrow with something to shout about.

"There's no pressure on us now and hopefully we can go out with a bit of pride. We've been poor at home.

"Maybe away from home, teams set up a bit differently, maybe more defensively looking for a point whereas at home, sides look for all three from the start and we've been caught out.

"When you attack, you commit players higher up the pitch and leave people one on one and at times.

"All of a sudden, the ball is launched and as a defence, you have to stay strong - but our defence hasn't always done that."

Henry has joined the likes of Dave Edwards, Stephen Ward, Michael Kightly and Stephen Hunt in backing interim manager Terry Connor who replaced the sacked Mick McCarthy with 13 games remaining.

The midfielder also feels Wolves would have more chance of keeping holding of some of their leading players if Connor remains at the helm on a full-time basis.

Henry said: "If you part company with any manager, there's always a transitional period. You can't just click your fingers and things start going well straight away.

"Any manager needs time. TC (Connor) has worked here for a long time and under Mick for a number of years - but if he'd carried on working in the same way as Mick, supporters would have been even more fed up.

"He's tried to bring his own ideas to the team and play his way, but it takes time.

"Under the circumstances, he's done a really good job and it wasn't his fault that he took over when he did with such limited time left.

"I think we've done well over the last few games.

"The performance after going down to 10 men against Arsenal was good and we followed that up by getting a point at Sunderland. Then we did really well at Swansea to draw after being 4-1 down."

The likes of top scorer Steven Fletcher, fellow striker Kevin Doyle and winger Matt Jarvis are almost certain to attract interest from Premier League clubs.

But Henry insisted: "If the club want to keep hold of their better players, they would have more chance of doing it with TC in charge.

"TC has been promoted twice with Wolves to the Premier League, so he knows what it takes to get out of the Championship.

"Everyone wants to win promotion to better themselves again by playing at the top level.

"Hopefully the club will do whatever it takes to keep hold of the better players.

"It might be a big ask but they need to do what it takes. There is a group of players who get on with each other and we all want to get back together."

Jarvis (groin) and right-back Kevin Foley (hamstring) are doubtful for the meeting with the Toffees.

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