Bumper crowd for Aston Villa derby as Paul Lambert says: "Wolves fanbase is driving us on"
Wolves' passionate fanbase can drive the team to greater heights, boss Paul Lambert believes, as the club heads for a bumper crowd on Saturday.
More than 27,000 are expected at Molineux for the West Midlands derby against near neighbours Villa.
The gate could be Wolves' biggest for almost two years since 27,480 watched a 2-0 victory over Derby County in March 2015.
Their biggest crowd so far this season was 27,293 for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday in November, which was boosted by a half price ticket offer.
Lambert has been enthused by the club's vociferous supporters since being appointed boss little more than two months ago.
And he believes Wolves' fans can be a true 12th man as the team looks to climb up the Championship table.
"Without a doubt the passionate fanbase drives you on – it's a powerful thing," he told the Express & Star.
"When you have what we have it's an incredible help. People underestimate how much a fanbase helps a team.
"On Saturday (at Stoke) it was absolutely brilliant. And the scenes after with the Icelandic clap thing.
"There seems to be something really good happening, albeit with small steps, and a feeling of us going in the right direction."
Wolves have a number of big games coming up, with a trip to Norwich and an FA Cup fourth round tie at Liverpool or Plymouth preceding home clashes against Newcastle and Blues in February.
Lambert added: "That relationship is important at any club, even more so here with a big fanbase.
"You can see it and sense it, that the players and supporters are bouncing off each other.
"That's a great thing to have and a strong and powerful thing to have.
"The way the lads are playing it's generating that.
"The noise was incredible on Saturday and it has been at home as well.
"The players and fans seem to be unified."
