Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has insisted goal difference could be a factor in the Premier League survival race.

Sunderland’s 4-0 win over Bolton last night maintained a three-point gap above Wolves.

But Hull’s 5-1 thumping at Everton on Sunday opened up an eight-goal swing in Wolves’ favour over the Tigers, who are third bottom on the same points.

And McCarthy believes that difference could be crucial in the run-in because his side do not look like conceding many.

“Hull’s defeat at Everton was a bigger favour to us because they got five put past them,” said the boss.

“That’s demoralising. If you get beat five, that knocks the stuffing out of you.

“We don’t look like doing that. We’re a more solid outfit.”

Wolves are the lowest scorers in the Premier League but McCarthy insists the only way their luck will change is by carrying on playing the same way.

“We have created loads of chances playing the way we’re playing,” he said.

“We’re not going to get better by changing it.

“We’ve stayed in games, instead of being 1-0 down after five minutes and trying to get one back.”

In the last three matches, Wolves have been denied by two superb saves by Chelsea’s Petr Cech, hit the inside of the post twice at Bolton and missed two golden chances from six yards against Manchester United.

And McCarthy believes Wolves just need some luck in front of goal.

“We need a break, we need a bit of luck,” he said.

“You’ve got to have luck sometimes – if the ball goes in off someone’s backside, there has to be an element of good fortune.

“But we will make our own luck playing the way we’re playing.”

McCarthy, who is planning an unchanged team for the fifth successive game at Burnley this Saturday, believes the same consistent approach is the key to survival.

“There’s no point getting so up when you win and so down when you lose,” he said.

“The season will go to 5pm on May 9. Who’s to say Michael Kightly, Sam Vokes or Jody Craddock won’t slide one in to keep us up?”

A young Wolves side lost 2-0 to Alvechurch in the Birmingham Senior Cup last night. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was sent off in the last minute for dissent.