Boss wants Wolves to 'walk the walk'

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has insisted it was time his players 'walked the walk' by proving they are better than last season.

Players have remained upbeat by declaring the team is better than the side that finished 15th in 2009-10.

They languish second bottom of the Premier League, five points from safety, going into Saturday's trip to Blackpool and McCarthy admitted it's time his squad backed up their words.

He said: "It's getting to the time where we've got to prove it. We've played better football and created more chances, but we've conceded poor goals.

"We're certainly playing better than last season, but we're in that position and we've got to get our way out of it.

"Looking at the league today tells you that, we're in that scrap and have got to get two wins to get out of it before anybody does anything.

"We've got to do better than a whole clump of teams above us."

McCarthy admitted there was no desperation in the camp.

He said: "We didn't get desperate last year and we're not going to do it this year.

"But maybe we just get to the stage when it's about getting a clean sheet and seeing where it takes us."

McCarthy also stressed the mood in the camp remained positive.

He said: "We'll be a lot better off when we get three points. If come in with a big sad face, everyone else will have one.

"Nobody should ever take that to mean we're not hurting, because that's never the case.

"But you've got to keep showing your best side in terms of your personality, because you can go on a real downward spiral if you're morose and let it affect you.

"We've also been behind in the first minute of our last two games. And when you concede after 40 or 50 seconds it changes the whole way you feel.

"Suddenly a straightforward pass because an 'iffy' one because we don't want to give the ball away."

McCarthy also revealed he is to revert to playing 4-5-1 at Blackpool and handed striker Kevin Doyle a vote of confidence.

The manager played 4-4-2 against Bolton last weekend to put more pressure on the opposition, but the plan never got a chance to work after they conceded in the first minute.

The news comes as Christophe Berra gave McCarthy hope he could be fit for the weekend after a scan on his knee injury yesterday.

The full prognosis isn't known but the centre-back's problem can be managed with continued treatment.

McCarthy intends to play one up front because of the extra protection the system gives.

He said: "We've created enough chances playing that way, although it's not like we were overrun in midfield on Saturday.

"Their first and second goals on Saturday had nothing to do with us having two in midfield - or four or five - and it was the same against Arsenal.

"But sometimes that 4-5-1 formation does give us a solid foundation."

Doyle, who starts for the Republic of Ireland in their friendly at home to Norway tonight, is yet to get off the mark in 12 Premier League games.

McCarthy said: "Kevin wants to score, but I think his performances have been great.

"He's been the catalyst for our performances, certainly going forward."

Blackpool's key man Charlie Adam is hopeful of being fit on Saturday, despite suffering a knee injury last night playing for Scotland.

He said: "I'm a wee bit sore and stiff in the knee, but I should be OK."