Hunt finds antidote to Mick’s fear of falling

STEVE MORGAN, the Wolves chairman, believes he lost “20 years of his life” in the space of a 90-minute white knuckle ride that makes anything any theme park has to offer look like a gentle up and down on a see-saw in the local park.

Wolves’ Premier League heartbeat flat-lined twice and only frantic resuscitation in the final three minutes thanks to Stephen Hunt kept them from the Championship morgue.

Hunt has been largely anonymous all season at Molineux, since his £4m transfer from Hull City. His metatarsal injury, the recuperation and having to sit in the shadow of Matt Jarvis, left many questioning McCarthy’s wisdom of indulging in such a piece of business. The wonderful goal conjured by his left foot was worth almost 10 times his transfer money and immeasurable in terms of sheer kudos and emotion for keeping Wolves in the Premier League.

As it turned out Roman Pavlyuchenko’s second goal against Birmingham City at White Hart Lane took some of the gloss from Hunt’s marvellous goal to ensure Wolves remained among the elite by more than just virtue of his 87th minute effort.

McCarthy has lost half a stone and has been struggling to sleep. His appetite may take some time to return but he will sleep like a baby after this emotional torture.

The memo McCarthy stuck on the notice board at the club’s training ground was simple and straightforward earlier in the week. It read “beat Blackburn”. His team could not manage to do that. Not only did it appear his team were unable to read they certainly appeared unable to play, shackled by fear and choked by the enormity of the occasion and incapable of carrying out the simplest of instructions.

They effectively gifted Steve Kean and the chicken farmers from Venky’s another season ticket for the Premier League with a woeful example of the basic arts of defending.

Venky’s will still be around next season, whether Kean is as manager remains to be seen. He has enhanced his reputation with seven positive results from the final nine games to stay in the division.

McCarthy had never wavered from his prediction that it would come down to the final game and in theory he could not have wished for a better proposition than Blackburn at home. Kean and his team were under just as much pressure themselves, but played the opening 45 minutes like a side already safe and with their holiday bags packed, assisted by some truly horrendous defending.

Michael Mancienne, in front of watching England U21 coach Stuart Pearce, played his way out of the European Championship squad this summer. He was too easily brushed aside by Steven N’Zonzi in an aerial battle, which allowed Junior Hoillet to further embarrass Jody Craddock and George Elokobi with his wonderfully quick feet before claiming Blackburn’s third goal in a disastrous 23-minute spell.

Craddock had been at fault for the second goal with a poor clearing header from Paul Robinson’s free-kick, but even he could not have expected the venom and placement of Brett Emerton’s volley which defeated Wayne Hennessey, who was equally powerless and exposed when Jason Roberts deflected Michel Salgado’s shot for Blackburn’s first goal.

Only a wonderful save in the second half from Hennessey denied Roberts a fourth Rovers goal, after Kevin Foley failed to intercept an Emerton cross, before Jamie O’Hara started the number crunching, finishing off a free-kick routine.

McCarthy was seen furiously gesticulating to his players with 10 minutes remaining, but all hope was fading until Hunt latched on to a long punt down field from Hennessey and produced the curling shot that defeated Robinson from the corner of the 18-yard box.

If any goal was required to be the one to make the difference, Hunt could not have provided one better. In the end it did not matter because of events at White Hart Lane, but it would have been worthy of keeping any club in the Premier League.