Balanced approach the way for McCarthy

McCarthy has refused to get carried away with Wolves' chances of achieving their Premier League dream, even though they went into the clash at Sheffield Wednesday three points clear at the top of the Championship with 10 games to go.

Wolves have been top since October and have held the lead for all but two weeks since August 30.

Equally, McCarthy has refused to get too down-hearted during the recent run of one win in 11 games.

He said: "I've never been dancing on the table when we've been winning - and I've never been all sack cloth and ashes when we've lost.

"Maintaining an equilibrium is important. Just because I won promotion as a player and a manager doesn't mean it will rub off.

"It just means when certain things arise, you know how to deal with it. Chasing it (top spot) is an easier position to be in, but everyone wants to be in our position."

McCarthy – named with 22-goal top scorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake as the Championship's two outstanding performers in Sky pundit Chris Kamara's 'Kammys' awards in a national paper – would love a proper crack at staying in the Premier after being denied the funds at Sunderland.

He said: "Yes, I'd love it – win four games before getting sacked at Christmas and then go on holiday in January!"

"I'll never know what it takes, because I was never given a chance. Billy Davies never got a chance either. I'm just glad to see the teams that went up last year give it a go. As for us, let's get there first – then I'll tell you."

Sheffield Wednesday's former Wolves utility man Michael Gray is in no doubt as to his old club's credentials.

He said: "Wolves are going up, no question, and Reading. I think they're the two best teams in the division. They're in a strong position. They're top of the table.

"Wolves got themselves a good result on Tuesday to pull away from the pack. Everybody's running out of games now. When you get to the last five or six games, that's when the nerves really kick in."