McCarthy was impressed with Matt Hill and George Friend at Selhurst Park

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy says there is a sense of relief after his side registered only their second win in 12 league games at Crystal Palace.

The 1-0 win at Selhurst Park left the Molineux club five points clear of Reading at the top of the Championship.

"I was really very pleased with the performance, proud of the performance," McCarthy told BBC WM.

"There is a sense of relief, of course there is, because of the need for a win and for a clean sheet."

It was the first time Wolves had held their opponents scoreless in a league game since the 1-0 win at Doncaster on 20 December, and McCarthy hopes it will restore the self-belief that had been ebbing away since the turn of the year.

"The best way of getting belief is by winning. How do you do that?" said the former Sunderland boss.

We're top. We won. We've got three more points. That's how I see it. Wolves boss Mick McCarthy

"We were playing the same way - what I would say is we were better in possession of the ball, we passed it, we worked it."

For the first time McCarthy paired summer signings Matt Hill and George Friend down the left hand side, and both players made a case for retaining their places in the side.

"Terrific I thought, the pair of them," he noted. "You know George - he's come to the club as a left-back, albeit an attacking left-back, and I thought his performance was fabulous.

"And Matty - whenever he's been asked to play he's been great."

Although Wolves hold a five point lead over Reading, the Royals have two games in hand.

Birmingham City are a further point adrift with one game in hand going into their midweek fixture at home to Bristol City.

But McCarthy is determined not to get too wrapped up in what the other promotion challengers are getting up to.

He added: "We're top. We won. We've got three more points - that's how I see it. I can't affect anybody else's result."

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