Collins "guilty" but Wolves still in the clear

He's been in the dock for many weeks now, and defendant Neill Collins seemingly has been convicted of all charges by Wolves' increasingly unhappy internet jury.

Even members of his own defence team appear to have stamped "case closed" on the file.

A desperate own goal and an indefensible red card provided a fresh tide of abuse for a player who has always done nothing but his absolute best for our team.

The argument is clearly whether his best is good enough. And Wolves' pursuit of Hearts' Christophe Berra may well answers that.

I was sickened by the farcical nature of his own goal, and disgusted by his dismissal.

But the bile being thrown at the young Scottish defender is, in my opinion, definitely out of proportion to his performances.

Collins is a victim of something resembling a baying mob, who certainly won't be turned by this article, even though that's not my aim.

Their verdict is a comprehensive anti-Collins stance.

I'm not even saying that position is totally wrong. At times Collins, particularly when the ball is at his feet, has struggled.

I just saying the level of abuse at one of our players is out of proportion to his fantastically honest endeavour - and depressingly sad.

But coupled with Collins is the notion that Wolves have started to "bottle it" and are destined for the lottery of the play-offs.

Come on lads, get a grip.

We are still two points clear of Reading, and four points clear of a Birmingham team that by common consent have been absolutely abject in recent weeks.

So Collins is officially guilty - although I still maintain that evidence will be provided by the defendant defender between now and May to overturn that decision at a re-trial - but please don't tell me Wolves are still not excellently placed to maintain a serious promotion challenge.

By all means tell me next Wednesday if we've picked up no points from back-to-back home games against Watford and Norwich.

But losing at Reading, by virtue of just one crazy moment in the very first minute, will fire Wolves up. Just you watch.

And in seven days' time, six more points in the bag remains, for me, completely realistic.