The acting captain's double strike sent the Championship leaders six points clear at the top of the table and also left Wolves 10 points clear of third-placed Reading.

Wolves were bright in the first half hour and laboured from then on but still comfortably registered their sixth successive victory with a 2-0 success while condemning Blackpool to a third straight loss.

The pacesetters would quickly have been out of sight had it not been for poor finishing and Paul Rachubka, the keeper who performed heroics before gifting Wolves their second goal.

The American brilliantly tipped over an early effort by central defender Richard Stearman, who might have had a hat-trick of headed goals in the first 27 minutes.

He dived to nod wide David Jones' free-kick and guided a clear chance off target from Michael Kightly's corner.

Also in the opening surge, Iwelumo glanced Kightly's header against the bar while Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was denied at close quarters by Rachubka following an error by former Wolves defender Rob Edwards.

But Iwelumo, skipper in the absence of the suspended Karl henry, volleyed Wolves ahead just before the half hour following Kevin Foley's long throw and turned to fire the clincher after Rachubka had spilled Kightly's 66th minute left-wing corner.

"If people want to say the armband has helped Chris get two goals, I'll happily take the credit," said McCarthy.

"With some players, especially younger ones, the captaincy can have a negative effect but Chris was our most experienced player today and he's a proper man. Obviously, it was a wonderful decision!

"It was a vital victory because we have Sheffield United and Birmingham to play next. Yes, we have a big lead but I remember us overturning Wigan's 11-point lead at Sunderland and winning it by eight, so there's no complacency. There are a lot of twists and turns ahead."

Blackpool were pushing hard for an equaliser when they made a present of the killer goal, Alan Gow steering wide Gary Taylor-Fletcher's pull back after Lee Hendrie, in his first Seasiders start, split Wolves open.

Edwards also saw a shot blocked close in and, although Wolves sub Sam Vokes twice went close near the end, visiting boss Simon Grayson was not disheartened.

"We showed them a bit too much respect in the first half and I reminded my players they had to get at them and show what we can do," he said.

"We were the dominant team for 25 minutes before the second goal, then Paul (Rachubka) made a mistake.

"He made some really good saves but that was a big point in the game.

"Wolves are pushing hard for the Premier League and I expect them to be right up there.

"We have the smallest budget and smallest crowds in the division and have no aim other than staying in the division."