Wolves: Familiar faces give Mick McCarthy the edge over Stoke City

Oct 30 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

Mick McCarthy

MICK McCarthy admits the sight of so many familiar faces make Stoke City almost second nature to him.

The Wolves gaffer has managed Liam Lawrence, Rory Delap, Danny Collins, Dean Whitehead and Glenn Whelan at either club level for Sunderland or with the Republic of Ireland.

That could work to Wolves’ advantage at tomorrow’s big local derby at The Britannia.

“I am more aware of Stoke’s threat than anyone else,” said McCarthy.

“They are good, solid Premiership players that Tony Pulis has signed to supplement the ones that got them up.

“I think Ricardo Fuller is terrific, Matty Etherington is a real threat and Tuncay is a real good Premiership player.”

Stoke are already in ninth in the table but McCarthy says over-confidence will not creep in.

“Tony will not allow complacency, I bet his first thought is to get those 40 points and still regards himself as one of those that have to prove themselves to stay up,’’ he added.

“One season staying up is a Premiership team, but one season getting promoted does not make us a Premiership team.”

McCarthy knows Wolves should have more points in the bag but has been pleased with performances.

“We have been steady but we need to turn those solid performances into results,’’ he added.

‘‘How do we do that? We are trying to work that one out.”

McCarthy will again set out to win the game.

“I never like to look at ‘home’ and ‘away’. We approach every game in the same way. We try to be positive and try to win,” he said.

“We will do the same tomorrow.”