Easter bunny

Mick McCarthy was bearing gifts as he marched in to Wolves' press conference this morning.

First a rather splendid Easter egg for Wolves' press officer Lorraine Hennessy, who has a penchant for all things chocolate.

And then a Wolves home shirt signed by all the squad for Express & Star Wolves' man Mark Douglas, for whom today was his last on the Molineux beat before departing for pastures new.

On the back of said shirt was the number 33 - the seat Douglas occupies in the Wolves' press box - and the nickname 'Buster'. Any Boxing fans out there?

There was also the presentation of some gift tokens and a card signed by members of the press corps who regularly follow Wolves, as well as a couple of players and McCarthy himself.

But the Wolves boss will hope such generosity ceases as of tomorrow when QPR come to town for another crucial Molineux afternoon.

It promises to be a tough encounter, and with their recent investment and renaissance under Luigi De Canio McCarthy fancies the Londoners could mount a promotion challenge next season if indeed not this.

He remains however in relaxed mood, as well he might.

Wolves are top of the pile when it comes to the current form tables with 13 points from their last six games.

QPR incidentally are fourth.

And the manager also drifted into the memory bank when describing how times have changed from his days as a player when the Easter weekend often involved no less than three fixtures and all with just one substitute.

"I remember we'd play Good Friday, on the Saturday and then the following week maybe Monday or Tuesday.

"You'd be in there on the Monday for the third game in four or five days and the manager would be shouting, 'You're not blooming fit, you lot, look at you, you're all blooming tired'.

"And actually it was like, 'yes, we are, we've had three games in five days'!

"You'd be getting bawled at and screamed at and the manager would shout, 'and if you don't pull your fingers out I'm going to put THE sub on'.

"I'd be thinking, 'yes, and he's really going to help isn't he'?!

"All of us are thinking, wouldn't mind being taken off to be fair.

"And I'd look across and see that the sub was a little left winger and I'm a 6ft 2in centre half and I'd know that I'd not be coming off so the manager could be shouting all he liked!"

No three games for Wolves this weekend, but three points would certainly be the perfect gift for McCarthy this weekend and make him a very Happy Bunny indeed.