Wolves boss Paul Lambert has sympathy for former club Blackburn

Lambert was in charge at Ewood Park for just six months, leaving at the end of last season due to differences with the owners.

He has great affection for the staff at Rovers and says he feels sorry for the supporters, who have regularly protested against owners Venky's including in the reverse fixture back in October when they arrived late – and left early – during a 1-1 draw with Wolves.

Rob Edwards was in charge that day, with Lambert taking over a couple of weeks later, so tomorrow will be the first time he's come up against his former employers.

The Wolves boss said of Rovers: "It's a really good club and there are some really good people there that have been there for years.

"I was involved in it and could probably see the problems that were starting. That's why I decided to leave because I thought it wasn't right, what was happening there.

"We have to win on Saturday. I'd love them to stay up, but I want us to beat them.

"Blackburn are in a really precarious position.

"Owen (Coyle) came in and tried to do his best, Tony (Mowbray) has gone in and it's been up and down.

"It's difficult for them. I can understand the supporters, it's not nice for them because nobody knows what's happening with the club, nobody speaks to tell people what's going on.

"It's a very difficult situation for them. I feel sorry for the supporters, they're a loyal bunch, I'm not sure they deserve not being told what's happening."

Rovers are currently 22nd in the table with just three games left to avoid dropping into the third tier for the first time since 1980.

A few weeks ago this fixture looked like being a six-pointer in the battle to stay up, but top-six form from Wolves has seen them climb to 16th and achieve safety with four games to spare.

"In my mind I was always calm," Lambert said of the fight to stay up.

"The last nine games we've won six, drawn one and lost two, and one of those was against a team that's going up.

"So the form has been incredible. Even the games when we were losing, one or two we should never have lost, the Birmingham and Wigan games, take a draw."

With the pressure off for the last four matches of the season, which will see Wolves host Huddersfield, travel to Derby and then play Preston at Molineux on the final day, will Lambert take the handbrake off?

"I think that'll transmit to the stands and the supporters," Lambert added.

"We want to finish as high as we can – we don't want to ease up. There are other teams fighting for their lives so you owe it to them to perform.

"It might make the fans turn up a bit more relaxed and I'm pretty sure it'll be great atmospheres."

Lambert will run the rule over captain Danny Batth (knee), Helder Costa (ankle) and Ivan Cavleiro (back).

He may also be considering whether to blood Jordan Graham and Michal Zyro, who completed 70 minutes for the under-23s last Saturday.