Relief as McCarthy is able to change record

AFTER a rough few weeks, finally Mick McCarthy had more than words of commiseration to offer his players.

McCarthy spoke of his pride at his team’s commitment after they halted a four-game losing streak by coming from behind to beat Sunderland 3-2 at Molineux.

Wanderers went 1-0 up thanks to Kevin Foley’s goal five minutes into the second half before efforts from Darren Bent and Danny Welbeck put Sunderland in the driving seat.

Stephen Hunt swiftly drew things level having come off the bench, though, and another substitute, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, lashed home a dramatic winner with a minute remaining.

It was the first time the midlands club had picked up any points since the end of October and McCarthy was delighted to see his players’ dedication to the cause rewarded.

“I take a huge sense of pride from the fact that every time the team goes out I get every last drop out of them in terms of effort and application,” McCarthy said.

“We maybe could do with a bit more quality at times when it comes to that final pass or final ball, but we never ever lack in effort, heart or belief. They give me everything.”

Going into the game off the back of four successive defeats, Wanderers had also developed the nasty habit in their last three games of conceding very early goals.

They made a more composed start against Sunderland, though, and were the side to launch the first few attacks.

They also had a goal ruled out for offside in a first half that gave no hint of the drama to come.

Wolves began the second half brightly and after Ronald Zubar had sent an attempt just the wrong side of the post, they snatched the lead in the 50th minute.

Foley drifted an early ball across to Matt Jarvis, who cut inside and fired an effort at Craig Gordon. The Scotland goalkeeper could only parry the ball, and Foley was on hand to lash it into the corner.

Sunderland were level as Bent latched onto Asamoah Gyan’s flick-on and coolly slotted the ball past Wayne Hennessey.

The hosts looked stung and almost quickly conceded another, Bent just firing wide.

Hennessey then palmed Steed Malbranque’s long-range effort away, but Sunderland had real momentum and with just under 15 minutes to go they went ahead, Welbeck heading in Philip Bardsley’s cross for his fourth goal in three games.

It seemed as if Wolves had capitulated completely, but to their credit, they pulled themselves back level within four minutes, George Elokobi getting a powerful header to Jarvis’ cross and Hunt, on for Jones, bundling the ball in.

Suddenly the impetus was with the hosts again and with a minute of the 90 left on the clock, they found a winning goal.

It was another substitute, Ebanks-Blake, who provided it, the former Manchester United striker blasting in after being teed up by Kevin Doyle to send Wolves’ fans into raptures.

Although Wolves remain 19th in the Barclays Premier League, they cut the gap between themselves and safety to three points after a rollercoaster match which McCarthy admitted had been tough to watch at times.

“It wouldn’t have mattered how we got the victory, I would have enjoyed it — I went through the mill before we did though,” he said.

“If I had worn my heart-rate monitor it would have been an interesting reading when I came off. It was up and down like a fiddler’s elbow with the conflicting emotions.”