Soccer:Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey has given his backing to under-fire manager Mick McCarthy ahead of tonight's Carling Cup clash with Manchester City.

McCarthy branded as “mindless idiots” the supporters who chanted “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “you’re getting sacked in the morning” towards him during the weekend draw with Swansea.

But Moxey has reaffirmed his faith in the former Republic of Ireland boss in the club’s matchday programme for the fourth-round encounter with City.

He said: “We remain well aware of fans’ frustrations and disappointment in the wake of recent results. But we all put our trust in Mick and the players and, over the last five years, they have delivered emphatically.

“So it remains ‘business as usual’ and we continue to look forward with optimism and to build on Saturday’s dramatic comeback.

“The changes Mick made on Saturday, and is often the case with his substitutions, ultimately provided a positive outcome as we hit back to take a point.”

Moxey respects the right of fans to voice their opinions but believes negative support can have a detrimental effect on the team.

He added: “Sometimes the mood in the crowd creates a pressure on the home team and which can affect players’ confidence and performance.

“No-one would want to stifle the passion with which our fans back the team and it has underpinned many of our successes we have enjoyed under Mick.

“It is always easier to support a team and get behind them when everything is going well but much more difficult when the team are going through something of a struggle.

“In an ideal world it is better to support the team during the 90 minutes and then — if fans feel it necessary — to make their feelings known after the final whistle.”