Wolves' Stephen Ward cries foul over Ireland defeat

Wolves man Stephen Ward has cried foul after being singled out over a blunder which cost Ireland dear last night.

The Molineux left-back sliced a clearance which landed straight at the feet of Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic who promptly restored his nation's lead just before half-time in last night's Euro 2012 clash.

The 2-1 advantage proved critical as Croatia eventually ran out 3-1 winners to leave Ireland already up against it in their battle to qualify from Group C.

But on a night when Ireland did not enjoy much luck in key decisions, Ward was adamant that he had been fouled by another Croatian player just as he was about to make the fateful clearance.

"I was clipped," said the Dubliner. "Everybody must have seen it except the referee, who was five yards away.

"And then there are the other guys, on the goal line – this is supposed to be the sort of thing they brought them in for."

The mishap could not have come at a more embarrassing moment for Ward who was at the centre of some unexpected transfer speculation yesterday.

One report claimed that the 26-year-old was being lined up by Everton as a potential £3m replacement for Leighton Baines in the event of the England left-back switching to Manchester United.

The reports were being taken with a pinch of salt at Molineux but serve to underline this nervous summer for Wolves fans fearing the leading players of the Mick McCarthy era will be picked off by Premier League clubs.

And despite persistent rumours from Scandinavia that striker Björn Bergmann Sigurdarson, a confirmed Wolves target, was within hours of signing, Molineux continued to play down the reports.

Sigurdarson is the player new manager Stale Solbakken has identified as his prime choice as Wolves prepare to do battle over the future of their top front players Steven Fletcher and Matt Jarvis.

Wolves are trying to get a deal clinched while rivals for the Lillestrom striker's signature dawdle.

Reports in Scotland suggest Celtic, who along with Everton and Reading have been named as also being interested in the player, have already withdrawn because of the interest from English clubs.