Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has insisted Portsmouth’s almost certain relegation does not make his side’s task any easier.

Pompey becamethe first Premier League club to enter administration today, with the club saddled some £70million in debt.

Under Premier League rules, the top flight’s basement club will be deducted nine points which leaves them on just seven, 17 from safety with 36 to play for.

The troubled south coast club travel to survival rivals Burnley tomorrow and host Wolves’ final away game on May 1.

But McCarthy feels playing without the pressure of staying up could boost the south coast club’s on-pitch fortunes.

He said: “I’m not really into anyone going into administration to help us. I wonder how it will affect them. Does the fact they’ve had nine points deducted and relegation looks almost inevitable, help or hinder?

“All of a sudden the pressure is off. They’ve got good players and they might relish the prospect of playing with no pressure.

“If it means Portsmouth get relegated it will mean all their players will be looking to get back into the Premier League next season, so there’s always something to play for.”

McCarthy echoed the call of the ‘safety first’ approach at goalshy Bolton tomorrow, because his side isn’t good enough to be ‘gung-ho.’

Bolton haven’t scored for over five and a half games in the League, netting just one in seven.

But McCarthy will stick with his 4-5-1 formation at the Reebok and look to repeat the performance of last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat against Chelsea.

He said: “If anyone says I should play 4-4-2 and exploit Bolton’s nerves, it’s not going to happen. We might go 2-0 up, then they get one back and we’re pushing treacle uphill.

“We’re not suddenly this great attacking threat where we can go to Bolton and shut the game down – we can’t do it.

“We’re not living in cloud cuckoo land – Bolton might have a few nerves but we’re only one point above them and we’re hardly pulling up trees.

“They’ve got firepower, so let’s not make it a nice open game of football so we find ourselves 1-0 down and struggle.

“Kevin Davies has a scoring record in the Premier League, and they’ll play him with Johan Elmander or Ivan Klasnic, who cost £7million and is different class, just like Chung Yong Lee is on the right.”