McCarthy: Wolves will play Tottenham Hotspur at their own game

Dec 11 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MICK McCarthy will send his bouyant Wolves troops out at Tottenham with a clear message that Harry Redknapp’s boys can be beaten.

Spurs are fourth in the table having notched 21 goals in seven home games – one fewer than Arsenal – although nine of those arrived in one visit.

Only the Gunners and Chelsea have scored more than their 35 goals.

Even so, Wolves take heart from Everton’s late rally at Goodison Park last weekend when David Moyes’ side came back from two goals down inside the last 12 minutes.

“They have been terrific this season and last Sunday they were outstanding for 65 minutes then they let it slip,” said McCarthy.

“They’ve got some outstanding players and it would be difficult to find too many better attacking forces in the Premier League than them.”

McCarthy is also well aware that Tottenham are susceptible to the counter-attack, having conceded 21 goals in the league.

“If you play and attack like they do then you will leave holes at the back, so then it’s whether you can exploit them or not,” he said.

“Stoke beat them at White Hart Lane but they got absolutely mullered.

“James Beattie hooked one off the line from under the bar and so did someone else. That result struck me as a real travesty, but they beat them and that’s what it says in the record books.”

Jermain Defoe has notched 12 league goals, another in the League Cup and another three for England since the opening day.

Mick said: “He’s on fire, he’s flying and he’s one of the top strikers in the league at the moment. I’ve always thought he was one of the top players because he’s a real handful.”