Mick McCarthy today insisted Wolves are over last season’s “bashing” against Stoke after admitting they were “rubbish and hopeless” in the last Staffordshire derby.

Wolves seek their third successive home win when the Potteries side come to Molineux tomorrow aiming to banish memories of the last time the sides met.

The 3-0 defeat at the Britannia Stadium in April was one of the lowest points of last season and led to even the most optimistic Wolves fans admitting they were going down before Survival Sunday.

But eight months on and McCarthy believes the tide has turned.

“We got bashed, we got murdered last time,” said the boss. “They played well, but we were rubbish, hopeless.

“That has no bearing on this game though now – this is a different season and a different game. We’ve got to play them tomorrow and it’s down to us to play well.”

McCarthy believes Wolves will continue to pick up points if they play as well as they did last Saturday, despite losing 4-1 to Manchester United.

“That’s what we hope for,” he said. “I thought we played well enough last weekend but we were just beaten by a better team.

“United were great and I thought Wayne Rooney was outstanding, different class.

“I didn’t think we did a lot wrong but we ended up losing 4-1.

“But we’ve got other games where we’ve got to play as well as that and get something out of them.”

Midfielder Jamie O’Hara insists Wolves are a different proposition to the team that capitulated in the Potteries.

“That was a tough game for us but I think we’re a different team this season,” he said.

“At home our results have started to improve and we’ve got a game-plan of how we want to play now and we’ve got to stick to it.”

O’Hara believes Stoke and Norwich – the Molineux visitors on Tuesday – present the ideal chance of points before the demanding festive schedule.

“If we can be unbeaten in these next two games it will give us a big boost going into the Christmas games,” he added.

See also:

• Wolves boss Mick McCarthy happy to allow Stoke towel tactics
• Jamie O’Hara says Wolves are winning when it matters
• Steven Fletcher not for sale says Mick McCarthy