Friday 31 October 2014 14:38, UK
Nouha Dicko says Wolverhampton Wanderers’ impressive start to the season should come as no surprise as they are targeting promotion.
In their first season back in the second tier, Kenny Jackett’s side have opened with a 26-point haul from 14 fixtures – enough to see them sitting third in the Sky Bet Championship table.
Few may have predicted that the men from Molineux would be flying so high at this stage, with the promise of more to come, but Mali international forward Dicko says those inside the Wolves camp always believed they were capable of pushing for a return to the Premier League.
He told Sky Sports when asked if Wolves’ form has made them a surprise package: “Well it definitely did not come as a surprise to us! We are confident in our quality as a team and the spirit is there.
“However, I think it came as surprise to most people how we have performed so far because as a promoted team that made little changes, maybe some people did not give us much of chance to succeed.”
Dicko added: "In general, a promoted team would primarily aim to stay in the Championship initially. However, Wolves is a big club which has tasted the Premier League, so Championship security is not enough for us.
“The players here have big ambitions, so even though we know it will be tough, our ultimate target is to achieve promotion to the Premier League."
While Wolves have resisted the urge to make sweeping changes to their ranks since lifting the Sky Bet League One title, Dicko acknowledges that Jackett has bought well and helped to preserve the winning mentality within the ranks.
He said: “I think the gaffer has done a fantastic job since he arrived, with the team he had and the players he brought in. He has got us playing attractive football whilst always pushing us to improve our game in order to get the right results.”
Next up for Wolves is a derby date with local rivals Birmingham City – a game you can catch live on Sky Sports this Saturday – and Dicko is expecting a tough test despite the Blues coming off the back of an 8-0 mauling at the hands of Bournemouth and still finding their feet under the guidance of new boss Gary Rowett.
He said: “It's going be a tough game, as they need to bounce back from a big defeat last week. Usually when a new manager comes in, the players will want to go the extra mile to prove a point but I don't think they will need any extra motivation since it’s already a big derby!
“The win is essential for us to stay up there in the league and particularly for our fans, we want it to be a good day for them. "
On the pressure of playing in such encounters, Dicko added: “Derby games are always unique, with lots of passionate fans attending so the atmosphere is always at its best.
“I enjoy every game I play but I welcome the added pressure and expectation that comes with a derby, because it makes scoring that much more special!”
