McCarthy hits out at fans over Wembley taunts at injured player

Manager Mick McCarthy has hit out at the Wolves fans for the chants directed towards Stoke winger Matthew Etherington after he was stretchered off during the midweek clash between the two clubs.

A section of supporters started singing "you're not going to Wembley" - a reference to the fact Etherington's injury might mean he is ruled out of the FA Cup final on May 15.

McCarthy was quick to condemn those comments ahead of tomorrow's derby at Birmingham. He said: "I don't subscribe to chanting about anyone that is injured or things that have happened in the past. You had Colin Bell talking about the Manchester City chants (about the Munich air disaster]. I just don't see it. It is not on in any shape or form for me."

Wolves fans were unhappy after the 3-0 defeat at the Britannia Stadium left them in the bottom three. But McCarthy said: "We were hopeless. We were well beaten. It was just as well Wayne Hennessey played so well or we would have been beaten by more. That (the fans being unhappy] doesn't bother me. There has been almost unequivocal support from Wolves fans for five years while I have been here."

Striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is again ruled out with a hamstring problem. But McCarthy is hoping striker Steven Fletcher has recovered from a knee problem in time to face Alex McLeish's side. He said: "Fletcher wasn't comfortable with the knee this morning but, as he progressed (with treatment] he was a lot happier with it. He wants to train tomorrow. That is the good news. He might play."