Source: Team_Talk
McCarthy bristles at rough reception
Mick McCarthy believes Wolves are already suffering at the hands of officials after being cast as the "devil incarnate".[LNB] Wolves were subjected to chants of "you're a disgrace to the Premiership" by traditionally reserved Fulham fans in their 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage.[LNB]Two weeks ago they were condemned for their role in a highly-physical draw with Newcastle but yesterday McCarthy's team faced a different accusation.[LNB]Seven bookings, the last of which resulted in a red card for Christophe Berra, were issued by referee Phil Dowd for offences Fulham manager Mark Hughes later described as a "little bit cynical".[LNB]The series of pulled shirts and obstructions incensed home fans still reeling from the departure of Bobby Zamora with a broken leg just above the ankle during a robust but legitimate tackle from Karl Henry.[LNB]While Wolves' physicality was just about within the boundaries of acceptability, their spoiling tactics soured an otherwise entertaining contest.[LNB]McCarthy, however, fears his team have been tainted to such an extent that they are being targeted unfairly by referees.[LNB]"We're not overly physical. The worst two tackle were by Fulham players on Karl Henry and Steven Fletcher," he said.[LNB]"Our bookings were trips. Michael Mancienne had a little tug at the shirt but if that's a booking....[LNB]"I'm not going to bemoan the bookings. I just don't want us to be labelled in a certain way so that officials are persuaded by that kind of attention. It cost us yesterday.[LNB]"Suddenly we've become the devil incarnate. We had one game against Newcastle that was really tough and Match of the Day highlighted all the challenges.[LNB]"But we watched the game on the following Monday and there were similar challenges being made on our lads.[LNB]"It was a tough game but that brought it to everyone's attention. The tag given to us after that match is unfair.[LNB]"It's media-led but now we've had the crowd singing we're 'a disgrace to the Premiership', which is completely untrue.[LNB]"We practice all week at keeping the ball, not at winning it back because we do that particularly well."[LNB]Hughes sympathises with McCarthy thanks to his spell as Blackburn manager between 2004-2008 when Rovers also trod a fine line.[LNB]"Sometimes it's difficult to shake off a reputation when it's put on you," said Hughes.[LNB]"That can be a real frustration because sometimes your play deserves more credit than people are giving it.[LNB]"Sometimes people revert to type in terms of how they view the way in which you approach games. Maybe Mick's getting a little bit of that at the moment.[LNB]"Wolves were involved in a really physical encounter against Newcastle, but it wasn't just Mick's side, it was both.[LNB]"He should be judged on what happens over the course of the season but you should expect teams to compete in the Premier League."[LNB]Wolves were competing admirably during a first half that was traumatising for Fulham.[LNB]Having seen Jelle van Damme give Wolves a 10th-minute lead by prodding home Kevin Doyle's cross, they then had to contend with the departure of Zamora.[LNB]But new signing Moussa Dembele came to the rescue by firing the equaliser and converting the injury-time free-kick won through the dismissal of Berra.[LNB]Fulham should also have been given penalties at each end but the erratic Dowd was unmoved on both occasions.[LNB]
