Mick blasts back over selection

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy admits he has put himself back under pressure with his controversial team selection at Old Trafford.

McCarthy made 10 changes to the side which defeated Tottenham on Saturday and saw his team slump to a 3-0 loss last night against reigning Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United.

The Wolves fans vented their frustration, bellowing "we want our money back", "where is our first team" and "£42 to watch the reserves" as their team tumbled back into the bottom three.

McCarthy insisted his selection was fully justified - but he also accepts the final judgement will not come until May.

"The pressure was off me on Saturday and I was starting to relax. I thought I would put it back on me again," shrugged McCarthy.

"I can understand the supporters' reaction but, at the end of the season, I will be judged on whether Wolves have stayed in the Premier League or not."

McCarthy was clearly aware of the criticism his decision would unleash because he came to the post-match press conference armed with a piece of evidence that shows players' performances reduce by up to 40 per cent when they are forced to compete twice in three or four days.

And, having asked his players to mark their efforts at Spurs and been presented with a succession of 9.5s, he opted against asking the same players to push themselves again so soon.

"It was not a plan but when I saw those figures I knew there was no chance of the same type of performance on a Tuesday after a Saturday game," he said.

"I have a squad of 21 to pick from and I regard them all as first-team players."

McCarthy then picked through a succession of matches against high-profile opposition and questioned why his team selections on those occasions had not prompted so much debate.

"If I go into another manager's office, or they come into mine, I don't get any sympathy if my team has just been slapped," he said.