Mick McCarthy felt Wolves were 'hopeless' and 'awful¿ during the first half at Bolton, but was pleased with their response as they claimed a 1-1 draw.
Wolves boss disappointed with first half display
Mick McCarthy felt Wolves were 'hopeless' and 'awful' during the first half at Bolton, but was pleased with their response as they claimed a 1-1 draw.
In a crucial basement battle at the Reebok Stadium, the Trotters edged in front through Sam Ricketts' spectacular 25-yeard strike.
Wolves had offered little up to that point and a long-range effort from Stephen Ward that crashed off the crossbar was as close as they came during the first half.
They were much-improved after the interval and restored parity four minutes into the second half when Steven Fletcher nodded home a Matt Jarvis free-kick.
McCarthy was happy to have taken a share of the spoils and was pleased to see his half-time team talk bring about the desired effect.
Poor
"It was required because we were hopeless in the first half, as bad as we have played I reckon," he told
Sky Sports.
"The difference between the two teams was the width of a crossbar, or maybe a fingertip, but we were poor. We never got started.
"It was my decision to play Wardy and Karl (Henry) in the middle after losing Ned (Milijas) to a three-match ban, Dave Edwards wouldn't have completed 90 minutes at that pace.
"We decided to change it at half-time and it was a much better performance.
"I thought we played well in the second half, I'm delighted with that. Not so with the performance from the first half, which was pretty awful."
Knock
Fletcher has been in prolific form in front of goal just recently and Wolves supporters will have been concerned to see him forced off with 20 minutes remaining.
McCarthy, though, has sought to play down those fears by insisting that the Scot was only withdrawn as a precaution.
"It's just a knock," he said.
"Fletch is terrific and he's in really good form at the moment, he's prolific.
"I don't think we gave him opportunities in the first half. We didn't win the scrap in the first half, they did. But second half I thought we won it."
