Captain Karl Henry admits Wolves put in a huge effort against Manchester City but were undone by their sheer quality.

“I think we were just undone by quality in the end,” said the midfielder.

“It was a great free kick from them for the second goal, but we were disappointed because we thought we put in such a good performance, especially in the first half.

“There wasn’t anything in it – if anything we had the better of it only to come in 1-0 down.

“But they’re a good quality side. You get what you pay for if you buy people who can score goals from anywhere in an instant, and that’s what they’ve got.

“I think the gaffer and the supporters could see we gave everything.

“We came away having lost 3-0 which is a misleading scoreline because we felt we played OK.

“I think the decision for the second goal was a bit harsh, but we’ve had a few decisions go our way too.

“Hopefully they’ll swing back in our favour.”

With Wolves on top but unable to penetrate City, McCarthy nonetheless tried to counter City’s switch from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2.

“I think that was a compliment to us and we did well to start with, we got in their faces, and, although they had a bit of possession at the back, we had the better of the first half.

“The first goal was so disappointing because they got a lucky deflection and Craig Bellamy got in behind us.”

Henry said the City experience was of one of their best footballing performances of season.

“Up until the last 15-20 minutes when we had a few tired legs including myself giving sloppy balls away, we kept the ball well,” he said.

“It’s something we’ve worked on because we know we have to keep the ball better from the Liverpool game.

“The gaffer mentioned that to us so we did it last night and we’ve got that string to our bow.

“It’s just a pity we didn’t come away with a point or more.”

Henry also believes his former Stoke team-mate Chris Iwelumo gave Wolves a different dimension.

“He gives us the option of not just lumping it up to him but playing the diagonal ball and he was getting hold of everything,” he said. “Him and Kevin Doyle were causing them real trouble in the first half and after the break too so I thought he did really well.”

Henry also went close with two shots, explaining: “The first one wasn’t too bad but I really should have hit the target for the second one – it was a chance for me to hit the back of the net.”

But Henry was also impressed with City’s two up front. “Tevez’s touch is superb, but you don’t realise how strong he is – he was keeping the ball even when there were two or three players around him.

“With Bellamy’s pace as well, they stretch you and before you know it, you’re strung out and it’s difficult to get back into your shape.They do that so well and they also retain possession.”