Wolves boss Mick McCarthy admits their clash with pointless Portsmouth is an early season six-pointer.

He said: "If I was at Pompey I'd be coming up here kicking, rollicking, biting and chewing, fighting and spitting and cussing.

"I'd be trying to ]make sure we got our first win. My lads will know all those things and I'll say it to them. But our players have taken three years to get into the Prem, they know what's at stake.

"They will understand Pompey are going to have a scrap and do they heck want to be the first ones to get beaten.

"It is massive. I'm not trying to hide it. If I talk it down, no-one will believe it. Portsmouth at home is going to be a big game - and it's just become bigger as they're bottom with no points.

"We could have done with them winning or drawing last week.

"Everything that's going on will make them feel hard done by and I don't like that in an opponent - they've got a lot to fight for."