Wolves manager Mick McCarthy insists he still has the backing of his club's owners and is "certain" that will continue.

Wanderers head into Tuesday's Championship game against bottom side Scunthorpe desperate for three points, with McCarthy's position firmly under the spotlight.

A dismal display in Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Cardiff was branded "hopeless" by the former Republic of Ireland manager as Wanderers stretched their winless streak to four games.

Three straight wins at the end of January ended a run of eight league matches without a victory to ease the pressure, but rumours have resurfaced since their form suffered a second slide.

After reaching last season's play-offs, pre-season promotion aspirations currently appear wide of the mark with 12th-placed Wolves seven points adrift of sixth spot.

While McCarthy concedes he would "understand" if changes were made by the club's hierarchy, he insists owner Steve Morgan and chief executive Jez Moxey are still right behind him.

He told Sky Sports News: "I have had great support from Steve and Jez. If it turns out that it is not right and it gets changed, then I understand. But I hate the knee-jerk reaction to fans and people having a go at the manager at some stage.

"They have seen a vast improvement from 18 months ago when we looked like getting relegated when I came. But that has changed, and at the moment we are having a tough time - we need a bit of support and we need a bit of help.

"Thankfully I have had that and I am certain I will get that in the future."

McCarthy admits his side are running out of time to get back among the play-off places and acknowledges only victory will suffice against the Iron.

"We have got to win the game - there's no point dressing it up," he added on Wolves' official website.

"We've been talking from the start about being a promotion-winning team and being involved in it and we're out of it by a really good stretch.

"There are 14 games left, and to have any chance of getting back in it we need to be doing it as soon as possible."

Another side bidding to overcome FA Cup disappointment will be Southampton, who take on play-off-chasing Plymouth 24 hours after unveiling Nigel Pearson as their new boss.

Sheffield Wednesday host Coventry in Tuesday's other match.

Sporting Life / Eurosport