Stephen Hunt has praised Mick McCarthy for helping to ease some of the pressure which sits on the shoulders of those inside the Wolves camp.
Winger hails McCarthy for helping to ease pressure on players
Stephen Hunt has praised Mick McCarthy for helping to ease some of the pressure which sits on the shoulders of those inside the Wolves camp.
It has been a testing campaign for those charged with the task of generating results at Molineux.
Since opening the season with back-to-back wins, Wolves have claimed only three more successes in their 24 fixtures to date.
Their struggles have dropped them into a Premier League basement battle, with the club currently sweating on their top-flight status.
An inability to string positive results together has also seen McCarthy come in for criticism from some quarters, with certain sections of the club's support aiming their frustration in the direction of the dugout.
Focused
The Wolves manager has never attempted to duck his responsibilities or pass the buck, though, with Hunt revealing that McCarthy's composure has helped to keep everyone else in line.
"The manager has done his best to make us feel that we aren't under pressure," the Republic of Ireland international told
Sky Sports ahead of a crucial derby date with West Brom on Sunday.
"He hasn't been pushing us too hard in training, because you can get carried away and do too much work. The manager knows that and has tried to keep us focused. Hopefully then you pick up wins when the weekend comes around."
Asked if the terrace abuse being fired at McCarthy has been overly harsh, Hunt added: "The manager has been here about five years now and he's been really successful in that time.
"I think all managers take a bit of stick at some time, and the players take stick as well. It's just up to us to move onto the next game and do our best in that. It's all part and parcel of football."
It does not take long for moods to change in football, with Sunderland's recent rise up the table proving how a few wins can help to significantly improve supporter-club relations.
Freedom
"Sometimes a new manager can have that effect on teams," Hunt said on Martin O'Neill's impact at the Stadium of Light.
"He's gone in there with a proven record and has them playing without any pressure. They have started to pick up wins as a result. It's easier to play when you feel like that. Hopefully we can find that."
Hunt is more determined than most to discover the winning habit, with the 30-year-old having found himself locked in relegation dogfights during his time at Reading, Hull City and now with Wolves.
He said: "I get the same question, unfortunately. I have been lucky enough to avoid relegation, but I have also been unlucky to be relegated twice. I know all about it and I will be doing my utmost to stay away from that this year. Hopefully it won't happen."
Stephen Hunt wears the PUMA King Finale SL available from www.prodirectsoccer.com
