Wolves aim to pile on the pain for Man Utd

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today urged fans not to focus solely on the forthcoming two home games – because they're planning to pile on the misery for Manchester United first.

McCarthy takes his side to Old Trafford on Saturday aiming to become the latest team to stun the champions after last night's shock Champions League exit.

Basle added to United's misery with a 2-1 defeat, the same scoreline by which Crystal Palace beat Sir Alex Ferguson's side when they dumped them out of the Carling Cup, making it two cup crashes in a week.

Wolves host Stoke and Norwich after the United game and McCarthy can understand supporters writing off the Old Trafford clash. But he wants to follow Basle and Palace in upsetting the Premier League champions.

"Of course it's wrong (to write games off) but I can understand people looking at the home games," said the boss.

"Supporters tend to look past United and see two matches we should win. That's not necessarily the truth, as we proved last season, and Stoke and Norwich will both be tough.

"There's no point looking beyond United, but we might get a point, or win, who knows? I never go anywhere and think we're going to get beat."

McCarthy believes that any thoughts of Wolves winning at Old Trafford for the first time in almost 32 years have to be tempered by United's formidable home record, which saw them win 18 and draw one of the Premier League home fixtures last season.

"Because of what Crystal Palace did there, United are on a 'bad' run and maybe we're expected to do likewise," he said. "They're on a 'bad' run having lost two games there in two years, or something like that.

"But come on, we're playing Man United at Old Trafford. Last season they only dropped two points at home, to West Brom."