Defining derbies for Wolves' Mick McCarthy

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has admitted the two Black Country derby showdowns with West Brom will have a massive impact on the season.

Sunday's noon derby at The Hawthorns starts a 12-match run-in for Wolves which sees them take on eight teams in the bottom half of the Premier League - including Albion twice.

And the Molineux chief believes the Baggies - currently three points clear in third bottom - are the side Wolves must pick up points from, rather than Arsenal, who beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday.

"That result isn't going to determine what happens to us this season," said the boss.

"It's what we do against West Brom, Blackpool and the rest that will do that.

"We aren't where we are because of our result on Saturday against Arsenal.

"We are where we are because of our results against West Ham, Wigan, Bolton and Fulham even Man United, because they were three that we gave away, without any shadow of a doubt.

"Suddenly if we were on 27 points things would look so much brighter."

McCarthy believes the teams face similar dilemmas because of their inability to stop leaking goals.

"That's why both teams are where we are," he said. "That's why they are where they are because they drew 3-3 against West Ham. As for Saturday, we got pumped - they were just really top class."

Despite being bottom of the table, Wolves' players remain bullish and McCarthy believes they are right to be optimistic.

"I would hope the players are bullish about these last 12 games," added the boss.

By Tim Nash