Mick McCarthy has urged Wolves to remain unbeaten for the rest of the season to clinch their Premier League survival – starting at Stoke.

Boss McCarthy takes his side to the Britannia Stadium for the re-arranged Staffordshire derby tonight, knowing a point will take them out of the drop zone on goal difference after Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Fulham with no other top flight action tonight.

Last season Wolves survived after conceding two goals in five games – two were goalless draws, including Stoke.

This term Wolves have kept just five clean sheets in the league and their longest unbeaten run is three games, back in August.

But the manager believes a series of stalemates could again be enough.

He said: “If we get another point, we’re out of the bottom three so let’s not get beat – that’s the message.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take to stay up but not getting beat in any of the games would be a huge plus.

“Who’s to say that a few goalless draws doesn’t put us in a really good position? We want to win but we don’t want to be out of games either. We don’t want to be chasing teams all the time.

“It’s important because it could come down to goal difference.”

McCarthy’s tone appears to usher in a vote of confidence for his changed back four of Richard Stearman, Jody Craddock, Christophe Berra and Stephen Ward to combat Stoke’s renowned aerial threat.

The Wolves boss believes his players will be more relaxed on their travels after looking nervous at Molineux on Saturday.

He said: “There is a little bit of expectancy when you’re at home. Going to Stoke, I would imagine expectations are less.

“Maybe we can relax and play better because we were nervy on Saturday, although that’s to be expected.

“We might not win either game this week, but we might win the last two and that could be enough.

“So let’s keep calm and keep playing.”

McCarthy has told his players to focus on the positives and ignore all the negative aspects of the relegation scrap.

He said: “I told them to ‘be focused on what staying in the league brings’ as opposed to thinking what may happen if we get relegated.

“Let’s stay on the positive side and I’m certain we’ll stay up.”

The Wolves boss also believes Sunday’s opponents Birmingham have joined Albion and Villa in beating the drop.

He said: “It would be unbelievable if Birmingham got dragged into it.”