Wolves: Mick McCarthy takes solace from chances created against Chelsea

Nov 23 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MICK McCarthy admitted his side were well beaten but took solace from a number of first-half chances for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Matt Jarvis and very nearly David Edwards.

“We were happy to get nil in the end,” the Wolves boss said, tongue in cheek.

“No, that’s unfair on our lads because we had some really good chances in the game.”

Edwards almost got on the end of a Jarvis cross with the game goalless. “We had the best chance at the start of the game but we made mistakes,” said McCarthy, who saw Jody Craddock’s mis-kick lead to the opener.

“It was a big clearance from Alex when we really should have been putting a head or a foot on the first ball.

“We let it bounce and didn’t clear it properly and then it was a wonderful strike (from Malouda).

“Then for the second goal, the corner was just a delivery into the box which we should be dealing with better.

“At 2-0 down, I’d have said it was a done deal because whatever surprise we could have sprung, the chances of it happening were more and more unlikely.”

McCarthy was able to find amusement in Chelsea’s weakened line-up.

“My heart bleeds for them that they had three decent players out. When they put the team sheet up, I thought ‘poor old Chelsea’.”

McCarthy praised the 3,000 travelling fans and believes Jarvis and Richard Stearman gave cause for optimism.

“I thought the fans were brilliant from start to finish,’’ said McCarthy.

‘‘And I thought there were some good performances from our players.

“Jarvis played really well and I thought Stearman played well at left-back.’’