Following their 3-0 home defeat to Everton on April 9, Wanderers had to wait a fortnight before taking to the field again, during which time they dropped to the bottom of the Barclays Premier League.
The result against the Cottagers moved McCarthy's side up to 19th, although a win would have taken them out of the relegation zone.
They have five games left to get themselves out of trouble, and the manager is glad the players will be back in action as soon as Tuesday, when they travel to Stoke.
"It's better playing - I don't want a two-week gap and the players don't," McCarthy said. "At this stage of the season, coming into training you have got to be motivated and the games really motivate you, preparing for them.
"We were ready for this game. Unfortunately we've not taken the three points but there is not much time to breathe before the next one and we have got three coming in the next few days."
Source: PA
Source: PA