Boss Mick McCarthy was annoyed that the “really poor decision” to disallow Daryl Murphy’s first-half goal had denied the Blues their first away win of the season, but was “thrilled and delighted” by Town’s performance as they drew 0-0 at his former club Wolves.

Murphy headed home Grant Ward’s corner in the 28th minute but the linesman raised his flag to controversially rule the goal out.

“I think it’s a really poor decision,” McCarthy said. “We were asking about it and they’ll find a reason it was disallowed I’m sure.

“I’m annoyed at that, but I’m thrilled and delighted with the performance, especially after Saturday’s second-half performance. And I should stress 'second half' because we played really well in the first half.

Why does he believe the goal was disallowed? “Freddie Sears is stood in front of the goalkeeper, admittedly, but it’s flown past them both.

“He’s not tried to do anything to it. It’s just flown in the net. I’m not even convinced he’s in an offside either because the defender was level.

“I saw a goal recently when someone shot at the goalkeeper, the guy’s run across the front of him, it’s gone in the net and it’s not offside. They’ve changed the rules. I’m bloody annoyed at that, never mind disappointed.”

McCarthy’s assistant Terry Connor subsequently spent several minutes discussing the matter with the fourth official.

“I don’t know if their ear-pieces aren’t working, but they finally came to a conclusion and got their stories straight,” McCarthy added ruefully.

Reflecting more on what was his team's best 90 minutes of the season, he said: “I thought we were excellent. I changed the shape of the team because I knew they would be playing 4-3-3 and I didn’t want us to get overrun. I thought we outplayed them and were very, very good tonight.

“That was much more like us. We had a reasonable first half against Barnsley and then played great in the second half.

“We played well in the first half at Brentford, but then, unfortunately, people are very quick to, well, to get down after one bad half of football.

“Maybe tonight was us getting back to what the Championship is all about. That’s real hard graft first and foremost, but it was also a really good football performance from us.”

McCarthy was full of praise for keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, who saved Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s first-half penalty, the Pole’s first spot-kick stop for the Blues.

“He’s an outstanding goalkeeper isn’t he? He’s proved it again,” the Town boss added. “We’ve got two outstanding goalkeeper and it’s always sad when one of them is out, but he [Dean Gerken] keeps Bart on his toes.

“I could go through all of them really, I thought we played really well as a team. I don’t think we’ve been troubled too much. We did the dirty stuff really well — closed it down, pressed it better than before, so far. [The system] worked really well.

“It gets the best out of Teddy, no doubt. He’s been out for 12 months, so it’s hard for him to play in a two at the moment.

“Dougie I thought was outstanding. It would suit Doz as well playing in a three because he can’t hack 4-4-2 in this league yet. That would be a really tough ask for him.

“We needed something after losing the last one. Everyone is kind of looking forward to Norwich and at the same time not looking forward to it.

“I am looking forward to it, but a lot of the fans seem scared of losing it. Well you’ve got to play the game and be brave and want to win the game. That’s what we’ll be attempting to do on Sunday.”

He felt there was trepidation among fans regarding the derby after the Brentford defeat: “I sensed from the supporters a bit of fear. I heard them saying on Saturday ‘We can’t play like that against Norwich’. But that wasn’t us the second half.

“It’s like they are excited about the game, but there’s an element of fear about losing it.

“That’s the same in all derby matches — Wolves versus West Brom, or Man U v Man City, Celtic v Rangers. They are great games to be part of, you just don’t want to lose them. And I get that.

“At least that’s a performance we can go into Sunday’s game to be proud of and to think that’s how we do play.”

Wolves manager Walter Zenga felt his team had been given a tough evening.

"In my opinion a very difficult game," he said. "We bring a good result in the end. Our regret is missing the penalty that can change the complex of the game.

"And then a great save in the second half from Helder Costa, did amazing things, I think this is what we must be happy about.”

Regarding Town, Zenga added: "Ipswich, we know, that they play in this style with long ball against the defender, doesn't let us play.

"We have to put the ball down and play faster with our quality. But, step by step we do these things.

"I have one penalty miss, one great save. It's true in the end we save one from the line, but our keeper did not have to make one save.

"I'm always happy because my players did everything they have inside. We cannot win every game but they have to understand this is the right way for Wolves."

Photo: TWTD

jas0999 added 12:33 - Aug 17 I agree it was a better performance. Agreed it was a disappointing decision to disallow the goal. But equally if it hadn't been for Bart we would have been a goal down anyway. My opinion is its an okay result, but not brilliant. We have now played four matches - eight halves of football - we have scored in just one of those. Pretty poor return overall and certainly nothing other than one half to suggest we are anything other than a below average side. New additions most definitely required.

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JimmyP45 added 12:34 - Aug 17 Not trying to sound negative, I am happy with a point away to Wolves where we were the better team. But to say Douglas is outstanding and that he should get a regular starting place is over the top. The guy has put in his first half-decent performance in the last 30 or so matches. Is that regular starting place material?
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blueherts added 15:25 - Aug 17 Spot on JimmyP45 One swallow does not make a summer - Douglas has been very poor for us
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Fatboy added 15:30 - Aug 17 Just seen the "goal" and can't believe it was disallowed. Sears was clearly onside and not one of the Wolves players appealed it.
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runningout added 16:14 - Aug 17 forget it
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Len_Brennan added 16:33 - Aug 17 I think we can safely forget about the prospects of any funds becoming available for strengthening the squad in the immediate future!
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midastouch added 00:12 - Aug 18 http://www.twtd.co.uk/members/essex57 seems essex57 has left the building! Shame as even though a lot of us often didn't agree with his views, I sure as hell enjoyed the ensuing banter!
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midastouch added 00:18 - Aug 18 Maybe if Murphy's goal hadn't of been wrongly disallowed Tue night he would of reactivated his account! :-) Should we unexpectedly turn over Norwich Sunday he may well be back with a vengeance! I'd be perfectly happy to hear a few "I told you so" comments in exchange for 3 points against Norwich! I'll take that deal any day of the week! :-)
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Rodrigo91 added 10:26 - Aug 19 if you watched the highlights Sears was offside although the keeper wouldn't have saved it anyway. As for the team lets face it our best player is Bart, it is good to have a decent keeper but surely worrying when he better than all of our outfield players?! And for stick he gets and he will lose the ball a bit but Mcgoldrick is our best outfield player and it's a shame to lose him again through injury. But he is the only player who gets the ball in that team and thinks how can I create something going forward where as everyone else seems to go sideways or a hoof to a very in unimpressive striker in Murphy!

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