McCarthy issues Sousa warning

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been warned that Saturday's opponents QPR will be like a wounded animal desperate to beat them.

Molineux boss Mick McCarthy insists the combination of a new manager in Paulo Sousa and underachieving players at a club with the second richest board in Britain is a powerful cocktail that could end Wolves' eight-match unbeaten record.

"It's a danger for us because they are like a wounded animal desperate to do well," said McCarthy.

"They have got a new manager and they have under-achieved.

"I'm concerned about QPR because it's not an easy place to play and they have good players and they have also signed good players.

"But they're finding their way around and they all want to impress the new manager.

"They all want to get up the league which is where they think they belong.

"They were billed as favourites because of who bought them.

"Weren't we billed similarly last season?

"And as far as I'm aware, they have spent longer in the Premier League for longer than we have.

"So they're a big club with big expectations. There's no question about it, it will be a very difficult game.

"They got new buyers and suddenly people thought it was all going to be sweetness and light – it doesn't work that way."

McCarthy believes Rangers boss Paulo Sousa has the pedigree to excel in the job.

"I know (new QPR boss) Paulo Sousa – I met him in Portugal this summer," said the Wolves boss.

"I'm not big friends with him but I went and introduced myself to him out of respect for him because he played against us (Republic of Ireland) for Portugal and was fabulous.

"I faxed him and wished him well – we were both equally adamant we would wish each other the best but not on the day we were playing one another.

"He's been working with the Portuguese national squad and if he's half as good a manager as he was a player, he'll be a bloody good manager."