McCarthy wary of United backlash

14 December 2009 15:26
With United having suffered a surprise home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa at the weekend, McCarthy is wary of facing Sir Alex Ferguson's title-chasing side with a point to prove.[LNB]Wolves will head to Old Trafford on a massive high having climbed out of the relegation zone with a shock success of their own at Tottenham on Saturday.[LNB]But he knows just what kind of test his side will face as they go in search of what would be a piece of club history - a third successive Premier League win.[LNB]McCarthy, who has lost Wales midfielder Dave Edwards for up to 10 weeks after he suffered an ankle injury at White Hart Lane, said: "They must be rubbing their hands together to be playing Wolves at home.[LNB]"They must be thinking 'Wolves are coming and we have just been beaten by Villa... If ever there is a chance to get yourself back on track it is to slap these insolent little so and sos coming up from the Black Country and we are going to give them the biggest doing they have ever had'.[LNB]"I would be thinking that if I was a Manchester United player.[LNB]"I would be rubbing my hands with glee that we were coming up.[LNB]"Go and have a look at the bookmakers and see what they are saying. They are not stupid. There are no skint ones.[LNB]"But you know my view on that, don't you? It doesn't always work out that way.[LNB]"The lads who are playing will be wanting to win the game.[LNB]"But we will not be going and chasing it and playing free open and expansive football because if we do they will beat us. Let's clear that up.[LNB]"We will be cautious and disciplined like we were at Tottenham."[LNB]Having beaten Tottenham thanks to Kevin Doyle's early goal, McCarthy wants to see the same kind of approach to tackling United.[LNB]He added: "We have a rating of the games and in terms of difficulties, that game against Tottenham was nine to 10 in terms of work-rate and energy levels.[LNB]"That has been the real difference in the last two games. There has been no passengers on the pitch in the last two games at all.[LNB]"If we are carrying someone or we are under par we will get beat.[LNB]"We started well at Tottenham and got the goal and we were disciplined and organised. The players deserve the credit. They took responsibility and they were very good.[LNB]"We still had chances there and we didn't get battered on Saturday and we will need that same kind of approach against United."[LNB]McCarthy will be forced into one change against United after midfielder Edwards suffered ankle damage against Spurs that will rule him out for up to 10 weeks.[LNB]Kevin Foley is on alert to replace him but McCarthy has also hinted he could rest one or two players after the effort they put in at White Hart Lane.[LNB]He will not finalise his side until the eve of the game and said: "There will be a couple of changes."[LNB][LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk