Mick McCarthy today warned Wolves they must make it three games unbeaten at Bolton on Saturday – or risk undoing their hard work at Arsenal.

McCarthy’s 10 men shocked the Gunners by emerging from the Emirates with a hard-earned point after a 1-1 draw. Fourth-bottom Wolves go to Bolton on New Year’s Eve two points clear of the drop zone and a further two points above their second-bottom opponents.

McCarthy admits his players must produce the same performance levels at the Reebok.

• See pictures from Wolves’ 1-1 draw with Arsenal

“It was a great point, but it won’t mean a great deal if we get slapped at Bolton,” said the boss. “We’ve got to get something there now.

“There’s no point going away from the Emirates all jubilant with a point and going to Bolton and getting beaten. We’ll need the same performance at Bolton.”

Wolves have a day’s less preparation than Owen Coyle’s side, who were beaten 2-0 at home by Newcastle 24 hours earlier.

McCarthy admitted his players were left utterly drained last night.

“Bolton will be looking at it thinking we’ve played a day later and have done all that defending and may well be knackered,” he said.

“The players were running on empty by the end with all that defending. But they were fabulous in the way they kept going and I was very proud of that performance.”

McCarthy’s chances of freshening his squad up hang in the balance as fit-again Dave Edwards will be assessed tomorrow after missing yesterday’s game through illness, while he said the Bolton clash may come too soon for Kevin Foley and Jody Craddock.

But he insisted he made the right decision in picking 18-year-old Anthony Forde, who made his full debut at the Emirates at wide right ahead of players such as Adam Hammill.

“It was an easy decision because I knew it was the right decision – he’s a good player,” said McCarthy.

“I’m not looking for any plaudits for picking one of my youngsters, he’s worthy of it. I thought Fordey was brilliant.”

Meanwhile McCarthy today vowed to appeal Nenad Milijas’s red card against Arsenal.

The Serbia international faces a three-match ban after being shown a straight red by controversial referee Stuart Attwell.