Mick's challenge for Wolves team

Wolves have been challenged to repeat their post Birmingham run of wins to erase the memory of their Wigan defeat.

Saturday's 2-0 defeat to the Latics made it three in a row for Mick McCarthy's side, who haven't scored in that period.

Wolves now face three successive trips in the Premier League to Hull, West Ham and Birmingham after this Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Crystal Palace.

But McCarthy remains upbeat and believes his team can repeat their run that saw them win three in four after the Blues setback.

He said: "It's not all sackcloth and ashes. We lost to Birmingham but then went on a decent run afterwards. We beat Spurs, then went and did some damage elsewhere.

"That's what we've got to do again and I've said that to the players. People will look at it and think that, because we lost to Wigan, they will wonder where we're going to get points from especially we've got three away games coming up. But we'll do it, we'll be fine.

"I don't subscribe to the theory that because we lost to Wigan, suddenly everything's doom and gloom."

McCarthy pointed to the red card for Richard Stearman on the stroke of half-time on Saturday, a second card and a penalty conceded for hauling down James McCarthy in the area, as the turning point - even though goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann saved Hugo Rodallega's penalty.

The manager said: "The sending off had a huge bearing on that game, because we would have been OK otherwise coming off goalless after there were chances at either end.

"It hadn't been a classic but I'm certain we'd have got better. Now we'll never know."

David Jones also insisted referee Howard Webb impeded him, as the Wolves midfielder tried to get across to block James McCarthy from scoring the first goal on Saturday.

He said: "I was blocked by the referee for the goal. I had a chance of getting there, or at the very least affecting the situation and putting some pressure on him. I just looked at the referee after, held my arms out and asked what he was doing. He said he had to be in that position in case of a penalty.

"But he shouldn't have been there really."

Stearman is suspended for Saturday's FA Cup fourth tie at home to Crystal Palace, after being sent off on Saturday.