A Michael Kightly goal secured all three points for Wolves at The City Ground giving them a five point lead at the top of the Championship table as second placed Birmingham managed only a draw from their home match against Norwich City.
"It's just a matter of getting the points," McCarthy said after the 1-0 win at Forest.
"It's not been a great game. Neither keeper has been stopping shots, we've tried to win the game and we've managed to do it.
"We set off with an attacking team and we put subs on and we got the goal that mattered."
"But we're a million miles away, let me tell you. We've won this today and we'll enjoy it.
"It's great to have 16 days off although the team we're playing next (Birmingham) have got the same 16 days off as well.
"It means we will not be sat chewing and grinding our teeth wondering what might have been had we not won the game.
"They can go and look at the league and forget about football for a few days.
"It's a nice feeling to have time off having won the last game."