McCarthy admits his team are feeling the pressure (Getty)

They are 11th in the Championship, five points adrift of the play-off positions with 10 games to play.

"Having talked all we did at the start of the season, we all got wrapped up in it, a bit naively as well," McCarthy told BBC WM.

"Whether that was expectation exceeding development I don't know. Maybe that put pressure on us."

We're far from where we believe we should be, and it disappoints us all Mick McCarthy

After setting his players a target of seven points from three games, McCarthy saw his side squander a lead in the 2-1 midweek defeat at Preston, adding to the manager's frustration.

"We're far from where we ought to be with the players that we've got. We're far from where we believe we should be, and it disappoints us all," said McCarthy.

"Everybody in that dressing room thinks we're better than the position we're in, but the only way of getting back is by winning and playing well."