Wolves are currently one place off the foot of the Barclays Premier League table and on a run of 22 games in all competitions without a clean sheet.
McCarthy is now determined to see his players rediscover the hard- to-beat attitude that saw them avoid the drop last season.
"Winning ugly is about not taking chances in the wrong areas," said McCarthy. "You don't have to play all the football and end up getting beaten.
"We need to be hooking the ball on when it needs to be hooked on, heading it, winning all the duels and tackles.
"We need to get back to that kind of approach. We need to play football when we can, but be tougher and harder to beat."
Source: PA
Source: PA