McCarthy backing Wolves to stay up

MICK McCarthy is convinced his side have what it takes to avoid relegation this season — after seeing the spirit shown by his team to end a run of eight games without a win in the high-pressure encounter against Wigan.

Wolves demonstrated the fighting spirit McCarthy has been looking for to leap up to 13th in the table and the world will be a “shinier and happier place” for the Wolves boss for the next couple of weeks.

“It is a relief and it was much-needed. To see the togetherness of all the players and the way they reacted was brilliant. We will need that for the rest of the season,” said McCarthy.

Martinez admits he is at risk of being sacked by his good friend and Wigan owner Dave Whelan, because of the disastrous run of eight straight defeats and he is worried that his side do not have the mental capacity to deal with the struggle for survival.

At the start of the season he turned down the chance to take over as Aston Villa manager to remain loyal to Whelan and asked if he expects the same kind of loyalty, he said: “That’s not for me to say.

Martinez insisted he was unaware of Antolin Alcaraz being caught on TV cameras spitting at Wolves defender Richard Stearman, adding: “I have not seen it, but if that’s case I will look into it and find out.”

Alcaraz should have been given straight red and could still be punished by video evidence and faces the prospect of a three-match ban. Stearman confirmed he had been spat at.