Wolves boss says Albion and Villa have beaten drop

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today admitted rivals Albion and Villa have effectively beaten the drop.

Successive wins for Albion as McCarthy's side have lost two have seen the Baggies climb seven points clear of the drop zone into 10th.

Villa are 14th and five points above the bottom three after picking up four points since their defeat to Wolves, who go into their free weekend a point from safety. And McCarthy effectively concedes two of their three West Midlands neighbours can start to relax.

"I think their wins at the weekend put both of them virtually safe," said the Molineux chief. "I said if teams got eight points from their last eight matches we'd all have done well.

"We've now got six games left and hardly any of us have taken any points since, yet Albion are on 39 points. It would have to be a hell of a turnaround for them not to stay up now. Then again, they've got Chelsea this weekend, and if they get beat then suddenly someone else can win."