Middlesbrough
2-0
Wolves Wolverhampton Wanderers

McDonald (90'), Emnes (89' pen.)

FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview

HT Report

Match Report

Reaction

Football

Stale Solbakken slams penalty decision

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 15 December 2012

Wolves boss Stale Solbakken criticises the decision to give opponents Middlesbrough a penalty in the 87th minute of their Championship clash today.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Stale Solbakken has blasted the referee's decision to award a late penalty against his side this afternoon.

Karl Henry was adjudged to have handled Scott McDonald's drilled cross inside the box three minutes from time while the score was 0-0. Middlesbrough's Marvin Emnes stepped up to give his side the lead, one they doubled deep into stoppage time to eventually run out 2-0 winners.

However, Solbakken believes that Henry had no time to move out of the way of the ball, and that the referee should have over-ruled the linesman's decision.

"It was a bad decision. The ball was kicked in very hard and he turned but he couldn't get out of the way," said Solbakken.

"For me the referee has to be 100% sure to give such a big decision and I don't think he could have been. I think he should have over-ruled the linesman. It was a very bad one.

"It was a big blow to us because I think we were the better team. After the first 20 minutes were played the better football, we created the better chances and we had the momentum. "

The result leaves Wolves 18th in the Championship table, while Middlesbrough now sit third.