First goal decisive: Wolves boss

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy" class="imageframe imgalignright" height="130" src="http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/wd2529503wolves-v-sheffiel.thumbnail.jpg" width="175"/>Mick McCarthy saw the moments leading up to Crystal Palace's first goal as decisive as his team continue to struggle for an up-turn in fortune.

The Wolves boss felt his team had performed better than a 0-3 scoreline suggests but saw the narrow miss by Stephen Ward a minute before Palace's Clinton Morrison struck the opener as a vital turning point.

"We're certainly getting punished at the minute that's for sure," says McCarthy. "It wasn't a 0-3 performance particularly with the amount of chances we've had in the game.

"There had not been a lot in it and then we had probably the best chance of the game – Sylvan (Ebanks-Blake) first and then Stephen Ward.

"I don't think Stephen could do a lot about it because doesn't expect to get it.

"That's what seems to happen when you don't get the rub of the green – maybe if we were, his header just slides inside the post instead of just past it.

"Then subsequently to our cost we end up going 1-0 down.

"I think we defended badly from their free kick, defended deep, and it drops to Clinton, who's bang in form and feeling good about himself, and he just rattles it in.

"I don't want to sit here bemoaning my luck but the second goal was also poor but when the first shot's been hit it's not even going to reach Wayne Hennessey.

"But it hits one of our defenders and falls into Scannell's path and he sidefoots it into the net.

"When you're having a good time that happens for you and if you're having a bad time ours get blocked on the line or we miss it.The third one was a wonder strike, a fabulous goal.

"But I thought we started the second half really well and even at 2-0 down we had chances.

"We were playing well and then of course we get absolutely slapped in the gob with the third one and it's a done deal. Then it's really difficult because you're never going to turn it around but in fairness the players kept going and we still had chances."

Now McCarthy knows he faces a battle to keep spirits up and belief in the camp.

He added: "There's one thing for certain, if heads go down and stop working and doing that side of the game then we really would struggle.

"It's not only hard work, it's ability as well because at times when we've passed it we've caused our own problems and we've not taken chances which has caused us problems.

"Without a doubt our lack of goals is a problem because the best chance of the first half was ours. Goals change the course of a game and change the spirit of the game and dynamics and atmosphere. Had we scored when we had that opportunity it might have been different.

"I thought Andy Keogh and Freddy, went they went on, were really lively and we've had that from substitutes at times.

"It's got to be done from the start, that we have two centre forwards who are causing havoc from the start, not when we're 2-0 down and the game's stretched and we're piling forward.

"They have to make me pick them, not the other way around."