You've done me proud
Wolves’ future in the top flight was secured for another campaign after Burnley were beaten 4-0 at home by Liverpool.
A run of 10 points from the last seven games – and just one defeat – ensured Wolves did not make a quickfire return to the Coca-Cola Championship.
McCarthy, whose side shared a 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn on Saturday, said: “I’ve always had a sense that we could finish above three other teams.
“I am immensely proud of the way the players have gone about things because of the way they have played and competed, the way they have gone about their jobs.
“Everyone has put a right shift in and the pride I feel can be outwardly shown a little bit more now that we are staying in the league.
“Even when we’ve been beaten, I’ve not come away and thought ‘I don’t admire the lads’ because they’ve been terrific in getting us into the Premier League and competing to stay in it.
“They have got better, they have matured, they believe in themselves and believe they can play in the Premier League and not just be hanging on for survival.
“They have actually competed against teams who are supposedly better than us and got points. Self-belief is a wonderful thing.”
Meanwhile Sylvan Ebanks-Blake insists he never lost faith in his ability to score at Premier League level after his first top-flight goal in open play for Wolves.
Ebanks-Blake scored 25 goals to help McCarthy’s side gain promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship 12 months ago. But this season he suffered early injury problems, failed to deliver the goods when fit and during the latter part of the campaign has had a bit-part role with Kevin Doyle used as the lone striker.
Any frustration temporarily evaporated when the former Plymouth player came off the bench against Blackburn with 11 minutes to go on Saturday and within 60 seconds had headed an equaliser to cancel out Ryan Nelsen’s first-half opener.
Asked if ever doubted he had a future at Wolves, Ebanks-Blake said: “No, never. While I’m still involved, and still a Wolves player, that is my only focus, to try and play games and work hard.
“I’m not one of those people who, when they drop out of the team, will start kicking up a fuss.”
Ebanks-Blake’s only other goal this season was a penalty against Aston Villa at Molineux.
He said: “I’m always confident I can score goals – no matter what league it is in – given the chance and I still remain confident.
“I’ve got to do my talking on the pitch. That is what I’ve got to do and I plan to do and I’m working hard every day to achieve that.
“Goals breed confidence. Any striker will tell you that. Once I got the goal, I was in a bit of a rhythm and thought maybe we could capitalise.”
Blackburn skipper Nelsen, meanwhile, has his sights set on a top-10 finish but hopes Rovers do not rue failing to put away their chances at Molineux after giving his side the lead.
The New Zealand international said: “A top-10 spot is still there but that is why this result is a really disappointing thing. A win would have put us in good stead for the last two games.
“The Premier League is cut throat, but we have two games to redeem ourselves.
“I think this game shows the reality of the Premier League. If you don’t put away your chances, it will come back and bite you.
“It was one lapse in concentration, it was a free header, and they scored and that is the story of the season. It was so near, yet so far. We felt in control of the game.”
MATCH RATING: ** – A pretty forgettable game on the whole with little or no entertaining football played. Not that Ebanks-Blake or Wolves will care unduly.
REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear) – Provoked the ire of Wolves fans on occasions but made very few incorrect calls.
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