Mick McCarthy admits he's reading nothing into Blackburn's poor start to the Barclays Premier League season and expects another tough old afternoon at Ewood Park tomorrow.

 

Blackburn have taken one point from their first three games of the new campaign but with the quality of their squad and manager, Mick doesn't expect them to occupy the league's lower reaches for long.

 

"Blackburn haven't had a good start, but Sam is a wily, experienced manager," he said.

 

"I remember him losing six on the bounce at Bolton and he would never have expected that, but he bounced back.

 

"It's always a worry to play against a team who hasn't won yet and the danger of playing one of Sam's teams is that they'll just keep doing what they're doing and will eke results out.

 

"It's early but he won't like the position he's in and am sure he'll be wanting to kick against that and beat us on Saturday

 

"They've had a bad start but it's going to be a really tough game for us.

 

"If you look at the players they've got, such as an England keeper in Paul Robinson, Ryan Nelsen, Chris Samba, David Dunn, Jason Roberts, Morten Gamst Pedersen, and Steven N'Zonzu, the big midfielder who Taff (Ian Evans) had seen and liked, they have got good players, even though they've lost Stephen Warnock.

 

"So it will be a tough old game, no question and there's no doubt it will be a physical encounter."

 

Sam has built up a reputation as producing tough and physical teams but that theory has been played down by the Wolves boss.

 

"Sam's team will be ready for that - but don't think for one minute they'll be saying 'Mick's team will be a right pushover'," he added.

 

"We've handled that side of it particularly well.

 

"Hull had big players and in fairness, they struggled to deal with us at free kicks and corners, probably more than we struggled to deal with them.

 

"But there are big players in the league and it's a part of the game you have to win because if you don't, you get rolled over very quickly.

 

"The quality is of football is better at this level, but the physical aspect is nothing unusual, that's for sure.

 

"It's just that if you find yourself getting a chasing, you can end up chasing the ball for a long time, which wears you out.

 

"But I think we've handled that side of it well."

 

"In the four games we've played we've competed in all the games except perhaps the first half at Manchester City when we were outplayed.

 

"Other than that we've been right in every game and perhaps should have got more points than we've got."

 

There are also familiar faces on show on the opposition at Blackburn tomorrow, both for Mick and Wolves.

 

He gave Steven Reid his Republic of Ireland debut, while Wolves know all about Keith Andrews after the midfielder came through the ranks at Molineux, made 65 appearances and also became the club's youngest ever captain.

 

"I gave Steven his debut in a World Cup game, so I know all about him," added Mick.

 

"He's a fantastic player but he's just been so unlucky with injuries.

 

"I'm glad to see him back - maybe not for Saturday! - but I'm glad to see him back because he's a lovely fellow.

 

"As for Keith he's one who has blossomed and improved later in life.

 

"He's improved since he was at Wolves, he's improved since he was at Hull and he improved at MK Dons to be fair.

 

"He's has done really well over the last three or four seasons and has done really well at Blackburn where he has just earned a new contract."

 

* Wolves fans are reminded that tickets have sold out for tomorrow's game so are urged not to travel without a ticket.  Tickets are still available for the home game with Fulham, on Sunday September 20, which is NOT being shown live on television.