McCarthy spells out why Wolves must beat Albion

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today spelt out the importance of beating Albion on Sunday, vowing: "Win and we'll stay up."

McCarthy is convinced that victory over their arch-rivals in the biggest Black Country derby will be the defining moment to guarantee their Premier League safety.

"The game won't decide anything unless we win it," said McCarthy.

"If we win on Sunday then I don't doubt for one minute we'll stay up.

"If we win this one, we go into our last two games with far more confidence after an away draw and a home win.

"It's no good thinking and wishing it though - we've got to do it which is completely different against a team in form."

Wolves could be four points adrift of safety with nine to play for if West Ham beat Blackburn at home and Wigan and Blackpool win at Villa and Tottenham respectively on Saturday before Wolves play on Sunday.

McCarthy believes the fact Albion can't now relegate Wolves at Molineux will help ease the tension on his players and the understandably anxious home support.

"Of course, because I'm sure it's going to go to the last game," he said.

"We'll get all that nonsense because we could win the last two games and everything will be hunky-dory and we might still stay up.

"We could win the next three or draw two and win one and stay up I don't know what it's going to take.

"But this result won't be a defining one unless we win, and then it will be defining."

Albion are all but safe but McCarthy is wary of any team with little to play for.

"I think it's a bit of an injustice suggesting professional footballers are in party mode," he said.

By TIM NASH