Mick McCarthy today brushed off any claims that Wolves are an over-physical side, insisting his players tackle "properly" and are simply being competitive as is necessary in the Barclays Premier League.

 

The last league fixture with Newcastle 12 days ago sparked plenty of attention suggesting Wolves had adopted an overly-aggressive approach and in particular targeted Toon midfielder Joey Barton, a claim pretty much ridiculed by both the manager and his squad.

 

As Wolves prepare to go into battle again at Fulham on Saturday, the boss insists nothing has changed in the team's approach and that they will continue to be ultra-competitive in their quest for valuable points.

 

"I think any perception that has come out is completely wrong," he said.

 

"I don't subscribe to it and I don't agree with it and think people have got the wrong end of the stick.

 

"There was one tackle against Everton which was highlighted and the reality is people should have been talking about the break and the wonderful finish and the goal that we scored.

 

"Remember - we got beat up by Everton in the first 45 minutes.

 

"We were mullered, physically and everything else, without the ball.

 

"And against Newcastle, we stood up to a really experienced team that day who I don't think should even have been in the Championship.

 

"There was only Williamson and Perch who hadn't played for them before.

 

"There was Harper in goal - and it was Shay Given before him there - and if there's a better left back than Enrique then tell me where he is.

 

"Gutierrez is an Argentinian international, Smith and Barton, Routledge has played in the Premier League for two clubs, Carroll's played in the Premier League and Nolan has scored as many goals for a midfielder in the division as anyone I know.

 

"There were a lot of bookings in the Newcastle game, and it was a tough old game - but there were no shrinking violets in their team either.

 

"That first tackle by Karl (Henry) on Joey Barton was a proper one - there was no leaving his foot in or turning into him, it was just a proper tackle.

 

 

"I had a lovely letter from a fella this week who said he was worried we might not stand up to their midfield.

 

"Well we did, but it certainly wasn't us bullying them by any stretch of the imagination.

 

"So I'm not having all this, and I was proud of the lads for the way we competed in both games against Newcastle and Everton."

 

The boss is still keen for his team to play their football, but knows they must also continue to maintain that competitive edge if they are to achieve positive results.

 

"We're a team that's competing in the Premier League and you have to do it," he added.

 

"We will continue to tackle and compete.

 

"The disappointment from my point of view against Newcastle was that we didn't use the ball as well as we did in the other games.

 

"But it takes all sorts of games and performances to get your points and it was a good point for us and for them.

 

 

"And we could have lost that game last season because Newcastle are a good side with some good players.

 

"You've got to stand up to it but I'm not having it that we're overly physical at all.

 

"Let me tell you: We're competitive and whatever went down against Newcastle a week last Saturday will be for the same 17 teams that we've still got to play here.

 

"Everyone else that comes here have got the same to come - it's a competitive place.

 

"I don't see us going to places and other teams pulling out of tackles anyway.

 

"We will play our football and we compete - we tackle and we tackle properly and we will continue doing the same."