Boss Mick McCarthy has warned Wolves to prepare for a major battle against Blackburn on Saturday – because they face a potentially top 10 version of themselves.

Boyhood Wolves fan Sam Allardyce’s outfit have reeled off three clean sheets in the last four games – the same as McCarthy’s side – while going one better than the Molineux men after holding Chelsea and Manchester United recently.

Allardyce’s teams are renowned for being uncompromising and Wolves faced an aerial bombardment in their 3-1 defeat at Ewood Park in September.

But the team have withstood demanding physical challenges in their last two home games, after forcing goalless draws with Everton and Stoke.

Rovers promise to be similar but boss McCarthy sees Blackburn as being a better version of his side.

He said: “They are one of the teams that could break into the top 10. They have also got capable footballers like all of Sam’s teams, like all of Mick McCarthy’s teams.

“They will work hard and compete and put their foot and if they don’t, they probably won’t be in the team – just like my team.

“They have got some talented footballers such as David Dunn and El Hadji Diouf, who can do something different. Morten Gamst Pedersen is also a good player who has been there a long time.

“They’re more than capable and have proved that and Sam just regularly keeps his team mid-table.”

Wolves produced one of their worst performances of the season at Ewood but only four of that visiting team are expected to start on Saturday, so McCarthy is hopeful of a different outcome.

He said: “The game was going nowhere until they scored after 19 minutes. It was a nothing game and we made a mistake that we never recovered from.

“Even at the time, it was unlike us but I guess you’re due one of those a season. It was one of those days where we never looked like we could get anything out of it.

“It was early on in the season and I can’t say that has happened since to be honest.”

To add to Wolves’ woes, George Elokobi was prevented from playing after turning up 10 minutes late for a team meeting, although McCarthy denied that affected the outcome.

The manager added: “George turning up late didn’t have any bearing on it.

“It was just a bad day for us and we had to improve on that.”