Source: Team_Talk
McCarthy lauds 'terrific' Craddock
Mick McCarthy hailed Jody Craddock's performance after Wolves' 0-0 draw with Stoke, a game in which the defender made his 500th league outing.[LNB] The 34-year-old Craddock and fellow centre-back Christophe Berra had to deal with a long-throw bombardment - 24 in total - from Stoke midfielder Rory Delap in Sunday's Premier League clash at Molineux.[LNB]But the clean sheet and home goalless draw moved Wolves six points clear of the bottom three with four games remaining.[LNB]Craddock played for three quarters of the game with his head bandaged up after an aerial clash with Abdoulaye Faye but demonstrated why he has been offered a new contract by McCarthy.[LNB]The Wolves boss said: "Jody is great. He has been terrific. That is why I want him to stay. But I bet he hasn't played as well as that for 500 games.[LNB]"If he had played like that for 500 games he would have been at Manchester United or somewhere else.[LNB]"But Jody and Christophe were superb. We had to defend. Stoke make you defend. They do that well (the long throw) and we've combated that well."[LNB]McCarthy revealed he had spent only a few minutes on the training ground working out how to stop the danger posed by Delap.[LNB]He said: "We had about four minutes on Saturday morning where we discussed where I wanted players to go. Since when it has become a surprise that centre-halves have to head the ball?[LNB]"The long throw from Delap is an effective weapon but, the more you make of it, you just put more fear into your own team."[LNB]McCarthy is determined Wolves will keep their destiny in their own hands rather than be dragged into a last-minute battle to survive.[LNB]He said: "I'd like to finish top of that bottom pile of teams - where we are at present - above Wigan, West Ham, Bolton, Burnley, Hull and Portsmouth.[LNB]"Someone in the bottom three has got to get seven points from their remaining games to get above us anyway but we are not resting on our laurels.[LNB]"We want to continue to get results and end with a flurry, not causing ourselves any problems by worrying about other results. Let's do it for ourselves. We won't get complacent."[LNB]Tony Pulis gained satisfaction from Stoke equalling their best run of top-flight away results for 30 years and they are now unbeaten in six games away from the Britannia Stadium.[LNB]The Stoke manager said: "I think it is only Chelsea who have got a better goals against record than us on the road so it is really encouraging considering the away form we had last year.[LNB]"We knew we had to improve the away form because we knew we couldn't replicate our home form in the second year.[LNB]"It has been very important and it is something the lads have picked up on and worked very hard at.[LNB]"I just think it is down to a little bit more experience and the lads have been in the Premier League for a year."
