Wolves back on track for Match of the Day

It's a crying shame it wasn't in different circumstances, but Wolves got a rare mention on Match of the Day on Saturday.

Unfortunately Messrs Lineker, Hansen and Shearer were talking about the impressive Premier League debut of Mark Davies for Bolton.

But it's a start - and my faith that Wolves will be a word that figures much more prominently on BBC1 from August remains unshaken.

In fact my faith was strengthened by a performance against the Hornets that reminded me why Wolves are deserved leaders of the Championship.

While Reading were slipping up slightly, Super Mick's men confidently and competently dealt with Watford with a performance that was a bit of a throw-back.

On a sticky pitch, Wolves rediscovered a fair bit of the zip that has clearly been missing since the start of December.

So ok, it wasn't a rampaging performance, but there were spells when Wolves were fairly rampant, pinning Watford back with lively attacking breaks.

And there were several performances that confirmed my long-held view that McCarthy's squad will really take some catching in the race for Premier League football.

No wins in five games had played into the hands of the doom merchants, but the Championship league table still shows us four points clear of second place - and six clear of lucky Blues.

Victory was never in doubt for me at Molineux from the moment it became clear Richard Stearman was going to enjoy a terrific afternoon alongside the ever-popular Jody Craddock.

And at the opposite end of the pitch, the recently subdued Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was back to his barnstorming best.

I thought Sylvan was fantastic. He got his goal early on, then battled for everything, including the centre circle tussle that ultimately led to Andy Keogh's goal.

Sylvan's goal record is sensational, and on Saturday so was his work rate.

I had a sneaking suspicion that Craddock would play in place of the heavily-criticised Neill Collins, and he was top class. But I've another suggestion - that may have been his Molineux farewell.

But where this leaves million pound signing Jason Shackell is now a matter of obvious debate, with Christophe Berra hopefully making his debut on Tuesday night against Norwich.

If the Berra deal is completed, McCarthy's transfer window activity will surely be deemed a great success - a desperately-needed central defender, a solid midfielder as cover or assistance for Karl Henry, and a lively winger as cover for Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly.

While some people have been losing their heads, McCarthy has calmly guided Wolves through a difficult December and January - and I don't see why we couldn't fly through February.