Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy: Michael Mancienne’s mistake hasn’t affected relegation chances

EPL ; Mick McCarthy , Wolverhampton vs Bolton(Getty Images)

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Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy believes Michael Mancienne’s mistake in the draw with Birmingham City will have little bearing on the club’s relegation destiny.

The on-loan Chelsea defender’s calamitous back header handed 10-man City a 1-1 draw after Steven Fletcher had opened the scoring from the penalty spot. The result on Sunday left Wolves in 19th place in the Premier League table and one point and one goal away from safety.

Speaking to reporters after the match, McCarthy was disappointed his side hadn’t taken advantage of Craig Gardner’s 27th minute sending off.

He said: “If we’d had loads of chances at 10-men then I might say it was an opportunity squandered but we didn’t, did we? I think Birmingham are pretty adept at having two banks of four.

“We had a good start to the game but our season is going to hinge on mistakes, and there’s another one.

“We just didn’t have what was necessary to break the 10-men down, unfortunately.

“Mancienne should have headed it clear but he tried to head it back the way and he Larsson has intercepted it. It’s a mistake.”

He continued: “It has deteriorated because one game has gone but we’ve looked at the four games and thought if we could get a point away from home, then we’ve got to do the job in the games at home that we’ve got.

“I still think it’s going to go to the last day. It’s a missed opportunity but Alex’s team stuck at it and didn’t give us too many chances.”

The decision by referee Kevin Friend to hand Gardner his marching orders for diving was backed by McCarthy. The Wolves supremo only wished more officials replicated the decision against those “who sin a little bit more often.”

The 52-year-old said: “It was a brave decision, to be honest. We all know the rules but I just wish one or two did it to the ones who sin a little bit more often as there are a few around the place.

“These that get up and wave imaginary yellow cards but that doesn’t seem to happen now either.”