Mick wants 'resilient' Wolves

Published Dec. 11, 2010 1:15 p.m. ET

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Wolves are three points adrift of safety as they approach a derby double header - at home to Birmingham tomorrow and then away to West Brom next weekend. But McCarthy has faith in his squad to handle the pressure. The former Republic of Ireland boss said: "I hate being in the bottom three and I'm not comfortable being there. "But I can cope with it because we have still got so many games to play and we have been playing well. "I also have no worries about the players. They have certainly got the character and spirit within the squad. "That has never been in doubt, never been in question, as far as I am concerned. "You want to defend ugly, you want clean sheets and you want to be resilient. We will be fine." McCarthy defied the pre-season bookmakers odds in keeping Wolves in the top flight last season. But he insisted: "I didn't drive my expectation levels up or down from last season. "I expected the same out of myself and the team although I was hoping for better. "That's not yet happened although we've had some mitigating circumstances. "We've made mistakes ourselves and cost ourselves points notably against Fulham, Aston Villa and Manchester United. "We've also had the most ridiculous injury list I've ever come across but we have to keep going." Wolves have failed to beat Blues in nine attempts since 2001. McCarthy said: "We've not got the best record against them but I don't go around saying 'we owe Birmingham one'. "I'd say we owe everyone who beats us. It is about this game. It is not about history. If we win, we drag Birmingham closer to us."