Underdog to top dog, it's all the same for Wolves' skipper Sam Ricketts
Sam Ricketts knows what it's like to be an underdog. As a Wales international who has played in all top five divisions in the professional pyramid, the Wolves captain has played his part in upsets along the way.
Even in Bolton's relegation season from the Premier League, the 32-year-old claimed the scalps of Liverpool – 3-1 at the Reebok – and Everton 2-1 away, while he was part of Trotters wins against promoted duo Cardiff and Hull last term.
He was also part of the Wales team that held Germany 0-0 away in a European Championship qualifier in November 2007.
Crewe have upset the applecart against Wolves before at Molineux, most notably in October 2001 when they ended an 11-match unbeaten start from Dave Jones' side by snatching a 1-0 win against all the odds.
And with second-from-bottom facing second-top at Molineux on Boxing Day, the cynics could be forgiven for sniffing a repeat.
Wily operator Ricketts has been in both situations in his long career and is aware of the banana-skin nature of the fixture.
"I've been on the other side of it as the underdog and you raise your game against the big sides," said the defender.
"They can come to us and relax – they're expected to get beat, they're not expected to do well, we've got a fantastic stadium and the atmosphere will be great.
"But sometimes when you take the pressure off players, they relax and play to a much higher standard. I think we've found that a lot this season, but we've coped."
In League One this season, Wolves are the big scalp but Ricketts is happy to be on the team under pressure.
"Now we're the big side and we relish that – you have to show the opposition we're playing against that there's a reason why we play for Wolves," he said. "You can tell how much it means to teams by the reaction of teams and fans on the odd occasion when we've lost this season.
"The opposition fans, players and backroom staff react as if they've just won the FA Cup so that just shows how up they get. We have to match that. As a player, I want to test myself and I like people trying to give their best against me."
A week after MK Dons boss Karl Robinson claimed his side produced the "perfect performance" following their 2-0 win at Molineux, the latest example of a team raising their game came at New York Stadium on Saturday. Yet this time Wolves withstood fierce pressure to rescue a point at Rotherham, coming from 3-1 down to draw 3-3.
"Rotherham had virtually a sell-out crowd a few days before Christmas for a game they'd been looking forward to for a long time," acknowledged Ricketts.
"That's the sort of atmosphere and scenario we face everywhere, whether we're at home or away. It's generally the biggest game of the season for the opposition.
"It's a good test for us; they raise their game, but it's what we relish."
One thing Ricketts is looking to improve on is the team's defending.
Saturday was the first time since the 3-1 home loss to Huddersfield on April 6 that Wolves have conceded more than two goals in a game.
"Our goals-for column isn't bad at all," he said. "But I was disappointed as a defender to concede three on Saturday."
Crewe are without Adam Drysdale after the centre-back was concussed in the opening minutes in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury, with Mark Ellis stepping up from the bench.
