David Wetherall still winces at the memory of the 4-1 Worthington Cup drubbing by Watford in midweek.

Captain in Stuart McCall's absence, he was powerless to prevent City sliding miserably out of the competition.

"I don't know what it was but we didn't have any energy or spark about us the other night," he said.

"It was one-way traffic, especially in the first half. Watford aren't a better team than us but they were all over us and we got what we deserved - it was a very long coach journey home."

The only crumb of comfort as Wetherall warms up for a clash with the league leaders Wolves tomorrow, is that no points were squandered.

"It could have been a blessing in disguise with the volume of games we've got coming up. But it doesn't feel like that at all.

"You want a good cup run and winning two games doesn't really count as a good cup run. But it's gone now and there's nothing we can do.

"The priority is the league and that's what we've got to focus on. Watford wasn't a league game and that's the only positive we can cling to.

"But it will have given a few people a kick up the backside and if we win tomorrow, everything looks rosy again."

Robert Molenaar is back from suspension as the defence prepares for a thorough examination against the only side in the country still to lose in the league this season.

Wetherall said: "It goes without saying but any team unbeaten after ten games are certainly no mugs.

"Wolves have signed some very good players in the summer and it will be extremely tough. But if we're on our game then there is no reason why we can't take something out of it.

"We've got to be at our best and certainly play a hell of a lot better than we did on Tuesday. If we do worse than that then we're in trouble."

City have not kept a clean sheet in the league since winning at Portsmouth on August 11 and have leaked ten goals in the last three first-team outings.

But Wetherall believes the occasion can inspire City to topple Dave Jones's men.

"It should be a really good atmosphere, Wolves will bring a few and there's going to be a large crowd. It's great to play in the big games and this is as big as it gets in this division.

"Hopefully we can get a result and put a little bit of a smile back on the manager's face after his very sad news."