Wolves: An impossible job? Rob Edwards shown the scale of club’s challenge to stay in Premier League

There is no doubting Wolves’ endeavour, they worked hard for Edwards but there is a glaring lack of quality and belief in the squad.

That low confidence will sap the skill Jorgen Strand Larsen demonstrated by scoring 14 goals last season, or the energy and class which Andre and Joao Gomes have previously shown in midfield.

It will be up to Edwards and his staff to help them rediscover that belief, although he was not helped by forward Hwang Hee-Chan’s wretched pass, just three minutes after coming on, which ultimately gifted Palace their second goal through Yeremy Pino’s lovely finish and sent them fourth.

“Clearly there’s one or two that are lacking some belief and confidence anyway, and that’s understandable from the position that we’re in,” said the new boss, who played 111 times for Wolves from 2004-2008.

“You’ve got to be able to handle that, the expectation this crowd are going to put on us. You sense that little bit of frustration when the goals go in and you can hear it around the place. I understand it, the fans were brilliant.

“The heads did drop but I don’t think the performance level dropped. I thought we tried to get back on the front foot and show some purpose.”

Edwards wants Wolves to run more and, before the visit of the Eagles, they had covered 1194.6k this season in the Premier League.

They are in the bottom six on that particular metric, compared to others, and on Saturday’s evidence, they need more than just miles in the tank to survive, despite Edwards’ positive notes.

The former Luton manager added: “I was saying to the lads if we win more duels and run harder and faster than them [opposition], good things will come. It hasn’t today but there are things you can take from it.

“We did win more duels, we did sprint with more intensity and I’ve got the results.

“We can work harder and do the basics better, the turnover for the second goal is frustrating, but there was an effort there.

“The boys did keep going. We got punished with a couple of the moments. That is why they are where they are and we are where we are.

“The Premier League is ruthless.”