Battle will go to wire - McCarthy
Mick McCarthy has warned Wolves fans to expect the promotion race to go right down to the wire. Mick McCarthy has warned Wolves fans to expect the promotion race to go right down to the wire. The Molineux men travel to Selhurst Park tomorrow knowing that a win will see them with one foot in the play-off places - but despite the importance of the game McCarthy feels nothing will be settled until the final day of the campaign. McCarthy told his team last week that three wins from their last five games would secure a play-off place - but a series of shock results over the last seven days has seen him scrap that target. Read the full story in today's Express & Star
McCarthy told his team last week that three wins from their last five games would secure a play-off place - but a series of shock results over the last seven days has seen him scrap that target.
"It won't be a matter of just holding our nerve for Saturday - its about holding your nerve until May 6," he said.
"It think it will come to the point where it is the last day of the season where it is decided. It happened when I was at Sunderland and we had a barmy last day when we ended up finishing third."
The Wolves boss feels that the division is now too tight to set any definitive points target.
"We did set a target a while ago but everyone around us has been beaten so it might end being considerably less points that we thought to get in the top six," he said.
"With five games to go we thought three wins would be enough to get us in but we just don't know now. Anyone who wins the last four games could still get one of the top two spots yet.
"I believe there will be a bit of wriggling before the end of the season so all we have to do is maintain that equilibrium and not get too carried away whether we win or lose our matches."
McCarthy - who confirmed Matt Murray will be rested for the game - has warned his side to expect no favours from a dangerous Crystal Palace team.
"I went to watch them when they played Leeds and they had nine points from nine and having had that start it looked like they would walk the division," he said.
"That has not proved to be the case but they have had some great results recently and Selhurst Park is a difficult place to go. But having said that I don't fear going anywhere with my set of players."
Meanwhile, McCarthy expects Jackie McNamara to be fit to return for the Selhurst Park clash. Winger Michael Kightly was sent home from training with a cold but should be back.