Mick’s view: We didn’t start
It was a very disillusioned Mick McCarthy that turned up at the post match press conference today. Wolves were not at their best at all in a game that Birmingham FC could win after holding on to a 1-0 lead from a goal scored by Bowyer after just three minutes of play. “We didn’t start“, as Mick put it.
“That was a hugely disappointing experience. Of course I didn’t turn up here expecting to get beat 1-0 or to play as poorly as we did in the first half. I think Birmingham played well but we didn’t compete as we normally do and today’s result is worrying.”
“It’s not the same as losing to Chelsea and Arsenal because it’s almost expected we lose to them but we’re expected to beat Birmingham at our place. We didn’t do that and they deserved it – they were better than us today. We didn’t start the game well and were a goal down after three minutes without making a tackle, laying a finger or a boot on them or anything. From there it was always going to be difficult and they defended their lead very well.”
“It’s out of character for our lads not to compete but perhaps without that great bit of quality from Bowyer we might have been able to get a grip on the game. The few chances we did manage to make we squandered.”
“Is it confidence or belief? Well it’s certainly not a lack of desire but we just didn’t compete from the start and they got a foothold on the game.“
About the changing of personnel
“I just wanted to put Kights on. He’s been bright and lively all week and although I didn’t think he was fit enough to start, we weren’t getting the ball down and playing and I thought he might give us a lift which he did. Unfortunately he’s got injured again at a time when he’d been playing well.”
“I don’t think Stephen Ward was fit to play the full game but we needed a left footed left back on there in the second half who could get forward and he did well.”
About Kightly’s injury
“He has damaged his ancle. We will asses it tomorrow.”
About Marcus Hahnemann in goal
“I thought Marcus played really well and couldn’t have done anything about the goal. We needed a bit of experience on the pitch. Wayne had just had a couple of tough games and I’ve got no problem with Marcus’s performance at all.“
About the match against Bolton next
“We’ll be back in to prepare on Monday and do it like we always do. It’s another big game just like this one was. We wanted three points against Birmingham and didn’t get it so the Bolton game is obviously another important one. We have to give the fans something next week and it’s up myself and the team to lift them. We can’t dwell on it and we just get back to work.“
--- Paddytheflea's Blog --- 
I don’t really understand why the result is a surprise. Wolves are virtually playing with the same team they had in the championship last year (with the exception of Doyle) when they couldn’t beat B’ham either. Why expect them to do so now, with an out of form SEB and Kightly, against a stronger B’ham side?
Bottom line, McCarthy wasted his money in the summer. Except for Doyle, he has nobody better than what he had last year in the Championship, and he proves it by pretty much playing the same players he had last year. His defence is not good enough at this level, and his forwards don’t look like scoring.
I’m sorry to admit this but we lack experience and class. Period. “Hard graft” alone is not going to cut it in the Premiership! It’s very disappointing that McCarthy can’t get that.
Wolves needs to strengthen the team, I agree, but many of the players are better than last year, they are young and under development. So I don’t agree that it is the same team.
But the team didn’t play well at all against Birmingham. They did their worst match this season in a time when they should have played their best. Wolves need a winger and better players in ‘the engine-room’ in my opinion. But good players are hard to find and it takes time for them to settle. But our current team can do much better than they did against Birmingham.