Post match reaction from Wolves

Last updated : 26 August 2014 By Michael Morris

Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted after the 1-0 Sky Bet Championship defeat at Wolves that the probe into his predecessor Malky Mackay had not been a distraction.

Solskjaer was more concerned with the fact that his side had lost their first game of the season after Cardiff skipper Mark Hudson handed Wolves victory when he deflected a speculative stoppage-time shot from Kevin McDonald into his own net.

Asked if the headlines surrounding Mackay and the text-message scandal had been off-putting, Solskjaer said: "Definitely not. No problem whatsoever. I deal with the football side of it and other people deal with the other side of the football club. So I was very, very focused on the game.

"I thought we negated them in the second half. In the first half we didn't defend well.

"We never won the ball in good positions to play. Bunt we sorted our shape out at half-time and were miles better. We won the ball and counter-attacked more often which is what I was hoping for in the first half.

"We had the best of the chances but they had most of the play - especially in the first half when they pegged us back.

"When you have lads like we do in defence, you deal with crosses, but unfortunately the worst one of the lot was deflected in.

"Things like that happen. There is nothing you can do about it. It is in the 91st or 92nd minute and you don't move your feet as quick as you should have and then it is in the back of the net, but that is football."

Solskjaer felt the defeat was hard on his side and claimed that they were denied a blatant penalty when substitute Guido Bergstaller saw his 76th-minute shot hit the arm of Richard Stearman.

Kenwyne Jones also saw an 83rd-minute close-range volley superbly saved by goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Solskjaer added: "We could have gone off 1-0 with Kenywne's chance or the penalty and everyone is happy. Now it is hard to take when you lose.

"It is a very cruel way to lose. We didn't deserve to concede a goal today especially after the second half when I thought the defensive display was outstanding."

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett was grateful for the late stroke of luck as he felt his side's winning chance had gone.

He said: "I thought in the first half in particular we played very well and maybe surprised them.

"We should have been ahead and there was some frustration at going in level at the break.

"The second half looked to just really be petering out and I thought that we were just putting the ball into the box aimlessly at times and without any real quality but in the end that is the way that the goal has come.

"It just shows that if you get the ball into the box more then they do into yours then percentage-wise it will work for you.

"We showed perseverance against a Cardiff side who are very good defensively and they won't concede many goals.

"They are very hard to break down and it is a very solid and experienced team.

"But from our point of view there are a lot of pluses. While we are a work in progress and have an aspiration to improve we will have a chance."

Wolves have now beaten all three of last season's relegated sides having also secured 1-0 wins against Norwich and Fulham.

Jackett added: "They have a lot of Premier League quality with Cardiff and Norwich City further ahead with Fulham a bit of a work in progress.

"Having said that, we should be encouraged by it. Maybe we have played them at a good time before they have got into their rhythm but you have to play them and we haven't looked outclassed at all. At times today we actually did look a class side."