Mick McCarthy laments Wolves’s defence lapses against Newcastle

EPL ; Mick McCarthy , Wolverhampton vs Bolton(Getty Images)

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Mick McCarthy has lambasted Wolves’s defence following his side’s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

Kevin Nolan, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands and Jonas Gutierrez all found the net for Alan Pardew’s side which left the Wolves boss bemoaning his team’s lapses as Wolves now sit second from bottom in the Premier League.

“The first one was really poor, we know Nolan runs on, it was a good finish when he gets it, but come on, if that happened tomorrow morning when we’re watching our kids you wouldn’t be happy about it,” said McCarthy.

“That changes the course, that changes the feeling, It gives them a better feeling and momentum.”

The former Ireland boss believed his side we’re starting to get back into the game late in the first half but were dealt a hammer blow when Ameobi added to Nolan’s first goal.

He said: “Prior to half-time we were having the best of it, Pards comes out and says make sure you keep it at 1-0 for the next two minutes. Unfortunately they didn’t take any notice and they went to 2-0, I don’t think he meant that when he shouted keep it at 1-0.”

The Wolves manager stated he didn’t think the international break helped his side’s cause as two of his key players Kevin Foley and Matt Jarvis were away on duty which prevented preparation for their crucial clash.

“We did have momentum but I don’t know whether the lads going away, Jarvo Matt Jarvis England cap, Kevin Foley playing two games, they haven’t played a game all year and they’re playing two games before the Newcastle game which didn’t do me any favours.

“It certainly affects the training we didn’t have everybody in till Thursday to really prepare but hey that’s the way it goes.”

McCarthy was in no doubt that Kevin Nolan’s challenge on Adam Hammill in the first half did not deserve a red card, but insists it was one of the poorer challenges in the game.

The Wolves boss also believes that his side have been given a raw deal of late about their reputation of being a dirty team which he thinks is not the case.

“It wasn’t a sending off no way. What really irks me is that everybody has tried to and spin this game to say we were some kind of monster coming up here, that we were evil and we were going to kick everybody,” he said.

“Every tackle was greeted with derision, It Nolan’s was the worse one on the pitch, it was the most cynical, the most professional and pre-meditated and not a bleeding word was said.  

“But it’s not a sending off it’s a yellow card. I don’t blame him for doing it, he took one for the team. Don’t be griping at my lads because we go down and heaven forbid tackle somebody.”

The Wolves boss thinks that the Magpies are a tricky opponent and has called for his side to bounce back against Everton.

“I don’t ever feel that Newcastle have ever been an easy touch,” McCarthy admitted.

“To come up here and you just expect to win because we had a bit of momentum and been playing well – does a team in the bottom three as long as we have suddenly become a great team that’s going to play well every week? No, it’s not so we’ve had a bad one today.

“We’ll regroup for Monday and we’ll get ready for Everton and we’ll be better.”