McCarthy: It's win or bust time for Wolves

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy believes it's win or bust time in their Premier League survival mission.

McCarthy says the clashes against Fulham, Stoke and Birmingham over the eight days from this Saturday will go a long way to determining if Wolves stay up.

"It's a huge week for us with the games we've got," said the boss.

"I think what we get out of these three matches will be a determining factor."

For a while McCarthy has believed three more wins will be enough to seal safety, but he now reckons it could be less after defeats for West Ham, Blackpool and Blackburn at the weekend.

Hammers boss Avram Grant is also targeting three wins, but they have one game less than the six Wolves have left.

"That would be remarkable because he's talking about a 60 per cent win success rate," said McCarthy.

"If we get three wins out of six, we'll stay up. But will we get those three wins? Looking at what's happened this season, it's unlikely.

"It can be done. But I'm a realist I look at the other teams and think they've got five games left so let's say they get a point a game, then 38 might be enough to stay up.

"We can all speculate, but no one has a clue how many it will take. My view is just to try to beat Fulham."

Despite going bottom, McCarthy remains convinced Wolves will stay up.

"There are enough teams still in it and the games we've got are tough but winnable ones," he said.

By Tim Nash