Wolves warned over Rovers´ revenge

Mick McCarthy has warned his Wolves side to be prepared for a backlash following the 7-1 drubbing Blackburn Rovers received at Manchester United last weekend.

Wolves travel to Blackburn and McCarthy insists Rovers will want a convincing win in front of their fans.

McCarthy said: “Blackburn Rovers had a bad day against Manchester United last weekend and they will want to put it right.”

“Things like that can happen at Manchester United. You can go there and get slapped. Sam Allardyce will look to see what they did wrong and he will see this as a game to win.”

McCarthy and Allardyce go back many years and he knows that the former Bolton boss will have his team primed for victory.

“I played against Sam and he is a good pal of mine,” said the Wolves manager.

“He is someone who gets the best out of players and we know that it will be a day for good defending. But I know that I get every last drop out of my players.”

“I have never had a team that lacks effort and if we hadn’t got that you would really struggle. Without those fighting qualities in the bottom half of the table you would have no chance.”

According to McCarthy, nine more wins will take Wolves to safety.

“From day one, 40 points is the target for the season,” he said.

“But I am not even sure it will take that many this season as there have been so many drawn games that it is a lot together, it is all about making sure that we keep everyone motivated.”

Defender Christophe Berra returns after serving a one-match ban and Steven Mouyokolo is fit following a back injury.

David Jones is out after suffering a gashed foot against Sunderland and seven-million pound striker Steven Fletcher is struggling with a virus.

Jody Craddock (thigh and hip), David Edwards (thigh) and Karl Henry (knee) are still missing.