McCarthy´s aim is Villa pain

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy reckons Aston Villa can be dragged further into a relegation battle ahead of his side’s trip to Villa Park on Saturday.

Wolves are 19th on 29 points but Villa are just two points off the bottom three and McCarthy hopes to increase the pressure on Gerrard Houllier’s men.

“Fighting is ingrained in the club and the teams I have,” said McCarthy.

“We have nine games left – key games. I can’t do anything about the others games. Villa Park is a fabulous stadium – it’s a great place to play and it is a huge Premier League game.”

“They are four points in front of us – we can drag them closer to us.”

“If we stay where we are we are going down but I don’t think that will happen. It is the 22nd of May that counts.”

“We’ve played well over recent weeks and if you are judged by recent form are form against Spurs was good.”

Richard Dunne and James Collins have been fined by Villa for their drunken escapades during a recent break but McCarthy believes Houllier’s side will not be affected by the events leading up to the match.

“Football clubs, despite the madness that is going around sometimes pull really good performances out of the hat,” he added.

“Whatever has happened I am sure it has been resolved.”

Stephen Hunt is back in training but not ready to return to the first team squad, along with Dave Edwards and Ronald Zubar who are also missing.

Michael Mancienne, Michael Kightly and Dave Jones return for McCarthy’s men.