Mick McCarthy full of praise for a ‘fantastic response’ by Wolves to Blues defeat

Dec 7 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MICK McCarthy praised his side for a “fabulous response” after they notched a first win in nine league games against Bolton.

Jody Craddock’s fourth goal in five games and a stunning long range strike from Nenad Milijas set Wolves on their way before Johan Elmander’s tap-in made for a nervy finish.

For McCarthy it was the ideal reply after the demoralising defeat to Blues.

“I thought it was a fabulous response to being beaten at home by Birmingham – we got that with spades on,” McCarthy said.

“It was essential we had that and despite being embroiled in a scrap at the end of the game we deserved the win.

“We shouldn’t have needed to be hanging on and should have had it won before they got their goal.

“We’d dealt with corners well up until their goal but that brought it on us for the last few minutes.

“There’s no pill or injection for confidence and their goal gave it to them and knocked us and we got nervy.

“Rewind six days to the Birmingham game and we get a slap after three minutes and we melted.

“Today we got the early goal and it’s a completely different game.

“After the goal we didn’t relent, we kicked on and probably should have been more than a goal ahead at half-time.

“It was a very good performance and I’m delighted for the players.”

While admitting Jody Craddock’s goal was offside, the Wolves manager believes it was a justified after luck had deserted his side earlier in the season.

“I can’t sit here and say it wasn’t offside although I think we maybe deserved some luck from what has happened earlier in the season,” he said.

“I don’t deserve any more luck than Gary Megson though.

“That decision went our way and not theirs. I’m an advocate of cameras and if we’d had them they would have spotted it and it wouldn’t have been given.

“But until they come in the referee and linesmen have got an impossible job.

“Today I’m sat here as the lucky one but I thought our performance and start to the game deserved the victory.”

McCarthy was also delighted for the Molineux crowd.

“I have said that we need everybody to stick together to have a chance of staying in this league and prospering as a football club,” he added.

“We’ve all stuck together and I thought the crowd were amazing – they really did get behind us.”