Nuno criticises referee after Wolves defeat to Cardiff

Goals from Joe Ralls and Wolves academy product Nathaniel Mendez-Laing gave the Bluebirds all three points in a 2-1 victory.

Leo Bonatini had equalised in between but the table-topping visitors were good value for the win.

However referee Scott Duncan came under fire after missing what Nuno said was an elbow by Loic Damour on Romain Saiss.

And Nuno demanded protection for his players and their brand of football. The Wolves boss said: "It was clear the game plan Cardiff had – take out our spaces, be aggressive, don't let our players have freedom that we've been showing.

"There were too many stoppages, too much of the ball out of the game, but we didn't do a good game. There were too many mistakes.

"This is the lesson. We have to analyse and avoid these kind of situations.

"We also have to analyse the referee. If he's going to allow these kind of situations that happen with Ruben (Neves) and not punish these situations, teams are going to do that.

"The referee must protect what people come to the stadium to see – they come to see football."

Specifically on the Damour/Saiss incident Nuno added: "Yes he should have been sent off, there's no other kind of interpretation.

"I saw an elbow on the neck of Saiss. The ball was not there."

The result ended Wolves' 100 per cent winning record from their first four matches in all competitions.

Nuno said Wolves must learn from their mistakes – but would never sacrifice his principles and change their style of play against physical opposition.

"We will never change the way we play," he added. "When you want to do something you cannot for one minute have a doubt.

"We started on June 26 and we won't change because of this game.

"It's the way you get up and approach (your next match). That's what makes you stronger.

"We are disappointed because we came here with a lot of confidence, back to our fans, it was almost full at Molineux.

"But we took too much time to put ourselves in the game.

"The character we want to build is that when you're in front we have to score more to be comfortable.

"I cannot change the way teams come to face us, I'm not concerned about that. I'm concerned about having an idea to deal with every moment in the game.

"Nothing changes. A few days ago we win and never get carried away. Today was not the result we expected...tomorrow is another day and we're going to work harder than before."