Mick McCarthy hailed Wolves’ 3-1 victory over relegation rivals West Ham as “vital” to their Barclays Premier League survival bid.

Kevin Doyle set Wolves on their way before Ronald Zubar and Matthew Jarvis struck inside three second-half minutes to lift Mick McCarthy’s side seven points clear of the drop zone.

Guillermo Franco came off the bench to score in injury time for West Ham but it was the hollowest of consolation goals.

McCarthy said: “We have not sewn anything up yet but we have gone a long way towards helping out.

“The scoreline didn’t flatter us. We played very well and deserved that victory. I don’t think anyone could disagree with that.

“It was a vital win for us in terms of us closing the gap on the teams above above us a little bit more and doing damage to West Ham.

“Burnley and Hull were thinking, ‘We were going to catch Wolves’. They might just be thinking, ‘We might catch Wigan and West Ham now.

“They might be looking at us and thinking ‘They have done real damage to us, there are not as many we can catch any more’.

“I hope that is what they are thinking.”

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola reflected on a “very, very painful” defeat and insisted on shouldering the blame himself after Hammers fans chanted “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” at the team.

“That is very, very painful for me because it is my duty to correct it. The team is not playing very well and I take responsibility for that.”