It's advantage Wolves, says Mick McCarthy

Bullish Mick McCarthy today insisted it was 'advantage Wolves' in the survival race after his battling side's superb win at Liverpool last night.

The shock 1-0 victory at Anfield saw Wolves climb off the bottom above New Year's Day opponents West Ham to within a point of safety, and left the Molineux gaffer claiming it was 'squeaky bum time' elsewhere.

"It squeezes the league up again and all those who've had a good result like Fulham, Blackburn, Birmingham and West Ham are brought back into it," said McCarthy.

"This result gives us more belief and they'll be a few bums squeaking elsewhere.

"Everyone might have thought we'd have gone after the Wigan result but our win squeezed it up again."

But McCarthy brought his players crashing back to earth after saying they must be even better to topple the Hammers.

"We played well last night but the same again on Saturday won't be good enough," he said. "It's West Ham away and they will fancy their chances."

The Wolves boss maintains his team will survive.

"I was asked before the game if we could stay up and I said yes," he added. "I just think that from the players I've got.

"They're not going to be pushed down by anybody."

McCarthy revealed how a broadside at his misfiring centre-backs Richard Stearman and Christophe Berra did the trick.

"I gave them a bit of stick from Sunday and they were hurting, but they proved me wrong," he said.

"I gave it out to them and when you do that, you want a response — and the pair of them were terrific."

McCarthy decided the best way to take on Liverpool was to get them on the back foot. "I think most people's perception of Wolves would be that we're going down," he said.

By TIM NASH