Wolverhampton 3 West Brom 1: Fletcher continues to pay off his £7m transfer at battling Wolves

Fletcher took his contribution to five goals in the last seven games since McCarthy challenged his £7m record signing to justify his price tag.

The Scotland international only reclaimed his place after Kevin Doyle suffered a knee ligament injury six weeks ago.

Adlene Guedioura was also on target for Wolves while the visitors could only manage a Peter Odemwingie penalty in reply – his 15th goal of the campaign.

McCarthy said: “He has scored some important goals and it is lovely to be proved right.

“I spent millions. He was my first choice. That is why I went and got him in the summer before I went on my holidays.

“I thought it was the best piece of business I could have done.

“I think he has proved to be exactly what I thought he would be. He was delighted with his goals and I am thrilled with him.”

McCarthy again proved himself unafraid to make big decisions by dropping England winger Matt Jarvis.

He said: “My job is to challenge them all. It would have been easy to do nothing and pick the same team.

“I could have left Jarvis in the team. The punters love him. It is part of the job to make tough decisions.

“He has played 30-odd times this season and he has not been at his most effective in the last few games.”

McCarthy is refusing to take anything for granted with two games remaining – away to Sunderland and at home to Blackburn.

He said: “It is pleasing and timely to be out of the bottom three.

“To take four points from two difficult local derbies is pretty good (Birmingham and West Brom) but I am still fully aware that there is work to be done.

“I am working on May 22 time (the final day of the season) and, as far as I know, it is only May 8.

“I am proud of the way we played, but there is plenty of work to be done.”

Albion boss Roy Hodgson blamed his side’s poor defending for only the second defeat in 10 games since he took charge.

He said: “If you concede two goals in the first half from corners, and concede a third from an unfortunate error, you’ve got a mountain to climb. I thought we tried to climb it and dominated the second half, showed great fighting spirit.”