Wolves: Mission Impossible? Rob Edwards has made clear the scale of the challenge the club faces to remain in the Premier League

There is no doubt about Wolves’ endeavours, they have worked hard for Edwards but there is a glaring lack of quality and belief in the team.

This low confidence would deplete the skill that Jurgen Strand Larsen showed by scoring 14 goals last season, or the energy and level that Andre and Joao Gomez previously showed in midfield.

It will be up to Edwards and his staff to help them rediscover that belief, although he was not helped by striker Hwang Hee Chan’s poor pass, just three minutes after coming on, which eventually gifted Palace their second goal through Jeremi Benno’s lovely touch and sent them into fourth place.

“It is clear that there are one or two players who lack some belief and confidence anyway, and that is understandable from the situation we are in,” said the new coach, who played 111 games for Wolves from 2004 to 2008.

“You have to be able to deal with that, and the expectations that this crowd will put on us. You get a little frustrated when you score goals and you can hear that everywhere. I understand that, the fans were great.

“Headers dropped but I don’t think the level of performance dropped. I think we tried to get back to the front and show some purpose.”

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

They’re in the bottom six on that particular scale, compared to others, and on Saturday’s evidence, they need more than just miles in the tank to stay alive, despite Edwards’ positive feedback.

The former Luton coach added: “I was telling the players if we won more duels and ran harder and faster than them.” [opposition]Good things will come. It didn’t happen today but there are things you can take from it.

“We won more duels, ran harder and got results.

“We can work harder and do the fundamentals better, the turnover on the second goal is disappointing, but there was effort there.

“The boys kept going. We were punished with a few moments. That’s why they are where they are and we are where we are.”

“The English Premier League is merciless.”