Mick McCarthy today appealed for a return to a “positive” atmosphere at Molineux to help bolster Wolves’ play off hopes – and warned that protest chants are playing into the hands of their Championship rivals.

Right: McCarthy reminds fans how to be encouraging.

The weekend’s latest round of anti-Jez Moxey chants have split fans down the middle, with some keen to concentrate on playing matters as the team enter an important period for their top six hopes.

And the Wolves boss, who is full of praise for the “superb” support shown by the regulars so far, is firmly in that camp. He wants protesting fans to shelve their grievances for 90 minutes when the team host Burnley in a fortnight.

Full story in all editions of tonight’s Express and StarMick McCarthy today appealed for a return to a “positive” atmosphere at Molineux to help bolster Wolves’ play off hopes – and warned that protest chants are playing into the hands of their Championship rivals.

The weekend’s latest round of anti-Jez Moxey chants have split fans down the middle, with some keen to concentrate on playing matters as the team enter an important period for their top six hopes.

And the Wolves boss, who is full of praise for the “superb” support shown by the regulars so far, is firmly in that camp. He wants protesting fans to shelve their grievances for 90 minutes when the team host Burnley in a fortnight.

“I think a negative atmosphere does help the opposition,” he said. “The first thing people say to us when we go to places like Cardiff is ‘isn’t it intimidating going to a place like that?’

“So what are people saying to the opposition when they come to our place? It’s a great place to play because they aren’t giving you any stick – they are giving the chief executive stick,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll be getting abuse at Preston – they’ll be booing us, giving me abuse and giving it to the lads too. It doesn’t bother me, but it certainly helps their team.

“So I would say to our supporters – boo the opposition and slaughter them. Make them feel uncomfortable – but not Jez who is sat upstairs.”

The boss feels the fans have an important role to play in the promotion push.

“We’re all in it together,” he said. “The players are trying their hardest – we virtually have to drag them off at the end of every game.”

He is keen to stress he is not criticising the club’s hardcore support.

“The support has been great – home and away,” he said. “The fans have been absolutely brilliant with the lads – they have been understanding and they love the energy levels the players have.”