Wolves boss happy with fixtures

Mick McCarthy is thankful Wolves are steering clear of the strugglers as they begin a crunch seven game run-in tonight.

The clash at Charlton kicks off a sequence of pressure games against teams who all have eyes on the play-off places Wolves are desperate to reach for the second season running.

"But it's better to be facing a team fighting for its dinner rather than another side fighting for its life,"said McCarthy.

After Charlton, Wolves must tackle Bristol City, Albion, Ipswich, Cardiff and Plymouth with only the penultimate match of the season, against relegation-threatened Coventry, breaking the pattern.

Even that game has been given an extra twist by the Freddy Eastwood row but McCarthy is pleased his team will largely be wrapped up in contests against fellow promotion chasers.

"It's in our hands to get to the play-offs and I prefer to have these tough games," he said.

"I would rather have that programme than playing those teams who are struggling against relegation.

"It means we are facing sides who are suffering the same anxieties as we are.

"If you play a side from near the bottom, everyone expects you to win and some people think it's going to be a doddle.

"It almost gets to the stage for the bottom clubs of them thinking they have nothing to lose so they might as well just go and give it a right good go."

Wolves have a two-week break before their trip to Bristol City after tonight's game during which McC-arthy will concentrate on "rest and recuperation" for players then facing an intense schedule up to the finishing line.

That would see Wolves return to action with David Edwards and Stephen Ward, who returned to training last week, available again.

But McCarthy continues to be sceptical about Michael Kightly's optimism to make a return next month after his ankle injury.