Stearman's apology to Wolves fans

Wolves defender Richard Stearman has held his hands up and admitted letting the club down with his sending off against Wigan.

Stearman saw red for two bookings, after fouling Maynor Figueroa then tugging the shirt of James McCarthy on the stroke of half time in the 2-0 defeat.

The game was goalless at that point, leaving Mick McCarthy's side a man down for 22 minutes during which James McCarthy scored before Wigan's Hendry Thomas was also sent off.

Stearman said: "I've got to hold my hands up - I cost us. I let the team down. It was a bit of a nightmare.

"I've had such a good season up until Saturday and it was just so disappointing to make a mistake. I've been delighted with the way I've been playing and didn't think I was having too bad a game.

"But I messed up. I think I was harshly punished to be sent off, but that's football and I've got to move on."

Stearman also revealed the reasons behind grabbing McCarthy's shirt.

He said: "I tried to feel where my man was and James went down a little bit easily. It's not something you think about or want to do – it's not like I did anything malicious.

"I don't think the ref remembered he'd booked me previously, but once he'd got the yellow out he had to get the red out."

McCarthy is to speak to Stearman about his actions.

The Wolves boss said: "I'll be speaking to Richard - I'll deal with it, but there's nothing I can do about it now. We'll sort it out. He didn't want to get sent off. He made a mistake and he won't want to repeat it – none of us do when we make mistakes.

"It's about educating yourself and you learn from them."

McCarthy refused to say whether Stearman has been fined.

The manager added: "Richard is young but if you don't learn and you keep making mistakes like that, then it becomes a very expensive, long, hard career. You get punished for it.

"I did it as a young player, although I never pulled anyone down in the box, but I made mistakes, probably through experience, or being daft, impetuous or whatever."