Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy insists he won’t ‘park the bus’ at Championship league-leaders Wolves tomorrow afternoon.

McCarthy, who spent almost six years in charge of the West Midlands club, hasn’t tasted defeat against his former employers in seven meetings as Blues boss (W2 D5).

Continuing that record looks a tough ask though given Nuno Espirito Santo’s multi-million pound outfit are four points clear at the top having won 10 of their last 12 games.

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“No, we won’t go and park the bus – I haven’t tried to park the bus anywhere,” said McCarthy, who only had 15 fit and available first team players for one training session this week.

“Sometimes you get forced back and pinned back, but defending is a part of the game. I don’t mind a 1-0 win anywhere. A clean sheet would be nice.”

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Town are currently two points adrift of the play-off places thanks largely to a fine home record (W7 D1 L3).

There have been spirited comeback wins at Barnsley, Millwall and Burton, as well as the battling 1-0 win at high-flying Derby last month, but the Blues have come up just short against the likes of Leeds (3-2), Sheffield United (1-0), Cardiff (3-1), Aston Villa (2-0) and Middlesbrough (2-0) on the road.

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Asked what his side have learnt from those last three away defeats, McCarthy replied: “Concentrate and don’t give stupid goals away.

“I didn’t see Middlesbrough having loads of shots, or Cardiff. At Villa I thought we were the best team in the first half.

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“When we have stuck with it, concentrated and not given anything away then we’ve got results – which we did at Derby.

“When we’ve lost we’ve just dropped our guard, switched off, blinked, conceded and then it’s tough.”

Wolves and Town are the division’s two leading scorers respectively, with the Blues having found the net 15 times in 11 away games.

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Town are unbeaten at Molineux in more than a decade, their last defeat there coming back in 2006.

“I’m not unduly worried that we can go and play anywhere,” said McCarthy.

“Listen, the pressure will be on them as well because it’s a game they are expected to win.

“They are the best team in the league, I think, but even the best team in the league gets beaten sometimes.”