Wolves supremo Mick McCarthy was left to reflect on a topsy-turvy set of recent results, which kept them bottom of the EPL entering the final third of the season.

The results included a record-breaking home win over EPL leaders Manchester United and a self-styled “spanking” by United’s nearest title challengers Arsenal at Emirates Stadium last Saturday.

The club are, however, embarking on an extensive rebuild of their Molineux home, as a sign of both their increased ambition and prudent spending policy.

McCarthy praised a “terrific, battling, scrapping performance” in beating United 2-1 but warned even then that his side “have to do it against other teams,” adding: “We have been bobbins against those around us.”

 

After the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, which would have been heavier but for a fine display by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessy, McCarthy admitted: “They were better than us, stronger than us, quicker than us – we were completely spanked.”

Wolves’ plans for Molineux Stadium will increase capacity from 29,000 to 31,700 by the start of the 2012/13 season. And the staged £40m project could see the ground hold 36,000 when it is finished.

Club chairman Steve Morgan said: “This decision is about a statement of our commitment, belief and ambition and about the planned success for Wolves over the medium and long-term.”

Wolves visit free-falling West Bromwich Albion in the EPL at (high) noon on Sunday for the ‘Black Country derby’ hoping to give new Baggies boss Roy Hodgson a baptism of fire in the Hawthorns hotseat.