Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has revealed how he celebrated Premier League survival – with a bike ride and some bubbly.

McCarthy could not bear to watch Liverpool’s 4-0 win at Burnley yesterday that confirmed the club had retained their top flight status for the first time since 1981.

Instead the 51-year-old – a regular cyclist since retiring from playing – was pounding the lanes around his south Staffordshire home before celebrating with a few drinks with his staff last night.

He said: “I went out on the bike yesterday afternoon, so I didn’t follow any of it. I avoided it like the plague like I avoided the Hull game in midweek.

“I couldn’t do anything to effect it and I go through enough emotions watching my own games.

“I got back home, had a shower and when I came down the stairs my wife Fiona said it was 2-0 to Liverpool so it was ‘Happy Days!’

“I went out for a drink with some of the staff and will then went back home for a Chinese and a glass of bubbly.

“It’s just nice to let it all sink in and know we’re going to be back in the Premier League next season. The players deserve it.

“But we’ve also still got two games to go and will want to finish as high as we can.”

McCarthy also paid tribute to the players for the work they have done to clinch survival.

He said: “The players deserve it. It’s always a big achievement for any team going into the Premier League, but surviving that first season means there’s a chance to build and try to continue to improve.

“It’s been an all-round team effort from start to finish. It’s extremely difficult for a promoted team and in our case we had very few players who had top flight experience.

“So many of them had to learn as they went along, but they did it quickly and adapted.”

The Wolves boss admitted the triumph was a real team effort.

He said: “So much of what we’ve achieved is down to everyone working together. There’s assistant boss Terry Connor, all the backroom staff and everyone else behind the scenes who contributes.”

McCarthy also showed his understanding at the mass pitch invasion that greeted the final whistle, even if celebrations were premature.

He added: “The fans’ reaction was understandable because of relief but so was my caution as well.”