McCarthy: Looking ahead
Mick McCarthy insists he will not be losing any sleep over Wolves' 4-1 defeat to Arsenal.
The Premier League new boys were given a harsh lesson on just how tough life at the top can be by the in-form Gunners.
Arsene Wenger's side took control of Saturday's encounter at Molineux from the moment Ronald Zubar put through his own net on 28 minutes.
There was to be no letting up from the North London outfit, as Eduardo forced Jody Craddock into another own goal shortly afterwards and Cesc Fabregas grabbed a third before half-time.
Andrey Arshavin added the finishing touches to an impressive display after the interval, with Craddock's late header of little consolation to the hosts.
McCarthy felt his side did all they could to contain the Gunners, and he will not be pointing any fingers in the dressing room.
He knows Wolves are battling for their top flight lives this term and he admits that there are biggest tests to come for his side.
He said: "Our season won't be judged by games against Arsenal. We have Birmingham coming up and this is the type of game we have to win.
"Hull, West Ham and Portsmouth are the teams in and around us and matches with them will be important.
"We have been ticking along okay but were well beaten in the end. We were outstanding for 30 minutes and took Arsenal on but mistakes have cost us.
"But I know the crowd appreciate the hard work the team put in and the way they tried to play."

Chelsea 4-0 Wolverhampton - Nicholas
Chelsea 4-0 Wolverhampton - Essien
Chelsea 4-0 Wolverhampton - McCarthy
Chelsea 4-0 Wolverhampton - Ancelotti
Wolves 1-4 Arsenal - McCarthy
Wolves 1-4 Arsenal - Wenger
Stoke 2-2 Wolves - McCarthy
Stoke 2-2 Wolves - Pulis
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Wolverhampton vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Bolton |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wolverhampton |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wolverhampton |
| Sunday 20th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wolverhampton vs Burnley |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Liverpool vs Wolverhampton |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Wolverhampton vs Man City |
| Sunday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Wolverhampton |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Wigan |
| Tuesday 26th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Wolverhampton vs Liverpool |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Wolverhampton |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Birmingham vs Wolverhampton |
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Wolverhampton vs Tottenham |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Wolverhampton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 0 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 5 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Wednesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Sunday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 2 - 1 Fulham | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Tuesday 25th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Wolverhampton 0 - 0 Swindon | |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 0 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 0 - 2 West Ham | |
| Tuesday 4th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Scunthorpe 2 - 4 Wolverhampton | |
| Wednesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Crewe 0 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Bristol City 2 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Wednesday 22nd July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Port Vale 2 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Tuesday 21st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Walsall 0 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 17 | Hull City | 12 | 11 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 12 | 10 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Pictures from Saturday's action where Liverpool draw with Man City and Arsenal lose away.
Bristol City fan Hannah Shine was strutting her as the Soccerette in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Sean St Ledger and Greg Halford join Ian and Kammy on the sofa for more goals and chat.
Wolves' 3-0 loss against Arsenal in 2003. Can you name the mystery starting XI?
Mick McCarthy conceded Wolves are in a relegation dogfight after his side lost 4-0 to a rampant Chelsea on Saturday.
A Michael Essien brace helped Chelsea easily beat Wolves 4-0 to maintain their five point lead at the top.
Chelsea continued their relentless march at the top of the table as Arsenal lost to Sunderland and Manchester City held Liverpool.
Chelsea will be looking to extend their Premier League lead against Wolves following the international break.
The Premier League recommences on Saturday lunchtime as Rafa Benitez's Liverpool go head-to-head with Manchester City at Anfield.