Mick McCarthy insists his Wolves side are still “a million miles away” from promotion despite moving five points clear at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship thanks to their 1-0 victory over struggling Nottingham Forest.

Michael Kightly grabbed the only goal of a low-key Midlands derby, smashing home Sam Vokes’ lay-off from 10 yards after good work from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake down the right.

The 76th-minute strike was one of only a handful of highlights from a dull encounter at the City Ground, but that did not concern McCarthy, whose side are now within six games of promotion to the Barclays Premier League.

“It’s just a matter of getting the points,” said the Wolves manager.

“It’s not been a great game. Neither keeper has been stopping shots, we’ve tried to win the game and we’ve managed to do it.

“We set off with an attacking team and we put subs on and we got the goal that mattered.”

He added: “But we’re a million miles away, let me tell you. We’ve won this today and we’ll enjoy it.”

The late winner certainly had ramifications at both ends of the table.

Wolves are five points clear of second-placed Birmingham after they could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to strugglers Norwich.

All the attention in the race for promotion will turn to St Andrew’s when the action resumes when Wolves meet Blues in a crunch clash.

“It’s great to have 16 days off although the team we’re playing (Birmingham) have got the same 16 days off as well,” added McCarthy.