‘Now is the perfect time to play Sunderland’ – Wolves’ Jody Craddock confident ahead of relegation clash

Jody Craddock,Wolverhampton Wanderers(Getty Images)

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Wolves defender Jody Craddock is looking to keep hopes of survival alight this weekend as Mick McCarthy’s side take on Sunderland, but isn’t expecting an easy game against a side looking to confirm their own safety.

Sitting just a point above 18^th placed Blackpool, Wolves need to be grabbing every point that comes their way in their final two games and hope that other results fall for them.

Craddock knows how vital just one point against Sunderland could be and accepts that Steve Bruce’s men will not go lightly on his teammates as they look to finalise their place in the Premier League next season.

 “We want to go there and we want to get at least a point from the game,” he told Absolute Radio. 

“Yes, we do want to go there to win the game, but we know, even though they are safe, it’s not going to be an easy game. 

“We know they’ve got injuries, but by no means does that take anything away from the rest of their squad who are going to be playing in the first team, so we expect a very, very tough game at the weekend.”

A win against West Brom last weekend eased the relegation fears of the Molineux outfit a little and Craddock feels that the victory over their Midlands rivals has provided a confidence boost ahead of the relegation run in.

He said: “It just gives everybody that boost. If it was a draw, if we’d have drawn or lost last week then we’d have come in having to win this game. 

“That win has given us a slight advantage, it’s only slight because I think there’s only one point just above it, but it’s given us a big boost of confidence. 

“We have that feeling of what it was like to be in that game and the way we pressed West Brom and the way we got the result, and that’s what we need, to carry on that and take that into the Sunderland game, exactly the same.”

The 35-year-old’s career spans over almost two decades and through the ups and downs of such an extensive life in football, Craddock believes that surviving in the Premier League rates highly as one of his many achievements in the sport.

He added: “Massively, the same as last year, a massive achievement for the club and for myself, you know, to be involved with a team that stays in Premiership is massive for my career as well.”

Whilst many players will have many a different techniques to wind down after such a pressurised period of time, Craddock indulges in a past time not so often associated with football players, painting.

“I’ve been painting for a few years now and it’s really progressed,” he said.

“Well, been painting for 10 years seriously and the last three, four, five years it’s kind of really progressed, I’m doing exhibitions and selling the stuff on websites.  Yeah, that’s something I love doing off the field and something I will continue to do when I retire.”

This Saturday Absolute Radio’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Football Live travels to The Stadium of Light for their feature game Sunderland  v Wolves which kicks off at 12.45pm. An FA Cup Final Review Special will follow the game. You can tune in every Saturday on Absolute Radio extra – on DAB Digital Radio, 1215AM and online in the UK. Tune in for the full Jordan Henderson interview. For more go to www.absoluteradio.co.uk/football