IT’S not often a manager is pleased with a point against the bottom club.

Expectations are high and fans are even more desperate for success.

So when Mick McCarthy admitted he was ‘very happy’ with a draw against Bolton on Saturday, it came as quite a surprise.

But when you look at other results, the experienced boss was right: it was a good point.

What probably made it more pleasing for McCarthy was Wolves’ rousing second-half performance because, to be frank, they were downright dreadful in the opening period.

Whether the Arsenal game had taken its toll on the troops or whether they were simply not up for it, these were questions running through the Wolves supporters’ heads – and McCarthy’s.

Even he couldn’t defend his team who, he said, were ‘hopeless’ and ‘the worst they had ever been’.

But somehow they managed to raise their game in the second half to earn a vital point.

The slice of good fortune that they desperately needed came in the 49th minute when Steven Fletcher won a foul after a nudge from Sam Ricketts.

Stephen Hunt sent in a perfect delivery and Fletcher punished some slack Bolton defending with a low, diving header.

Wolves then had chances to win it but Jussi Jaaskelainen twice denied them late on.

McCarthy deserved some credit for the draw after his inspired half-time team-talk.

He admitted that a torrent of abuse towards his under-performing players is not always what is needed.

Instead, he had to pick the bones out of the dismal display in order to find the cure.

The decision was to take off George Elokobi (who did nothing wrong), move Stephen Ward from centre midfield to his usual spot at left-back and introduce David Edwards.