Mick McCarthy has prepared Wolves fans for what could be a "scrappy, horrible" game when Scunthorpe arrive at Molineux on Tuesday evening.

Wolves go into the match on a high and looking to confirm themselves as genuine play-off contenders following their 3-1 win at Burnley on Saturday.

And although strugglers Scunthorpe are opponents McCarthy admits they will be expected to beat, he does not expect an easy ride.

Instead he believes the second-bottom side will be eager to battle harder than ever at Molineux as time runs out in their bid to gain the points that would save them from an immediate return to League One.

"I just hope everyone doesn't turn up and think that just because we won 3-1 on Saturday against Burnley this will be a piece of cake - it never is.

"It is a game that everyone will expect us to win, except Scunthorpe of course, because they will come here and be resolute and determined," he told the club's official website.

"It might be one of those scrappy, horrible games. All that matters is that we get a win.

"We all know how close the league is and how strange and uncertain the results can be."

While the former Republic of Ireland coach also added he did not expect his side to get too many chances in front of goal, he does see the match as a chance to get another three points on the board - as long as they approach the match in the right frame of mind.

"We all know how close this league is and how uncertain the results can be. But I do regard it as an opportunity.

"It isn't going to be a football-fest with goals all over the place because they are scrapping for their lives. So let's understand that and go out with that thought."

TEAMtalk / Eurosport