Analysis of Leeds 3 Wolves 1

Wolves continue to have a 'work in progress' look about them as they edge closer to the new season.

But there was nothing uncertain about manager Mick McCarthy's assessment of this second successive defeat to Championship opposition.

McCarthy had harsh words for his players after a performance which was at best uninspired and at worst sloppy and lacklustre.

A strong Wolves side looked leaden-footed at times, admittedly against a team with all the zip about them you'd expect a week before their season starts.

While there were few highlights for Wolves, the performance of Steven Fletcher was a beacon of hope.

Easily his side's outstanding player, the club record £7m buy saw a vicious tight-angled drive tipped over by Kasper Schmeichel and provided the two best passes for Matt Jarvis and Kevin Doyle.

Jarvis, the scorer of Wolves' equaliser with the last kick of the first half, offered another encouraging pointer with a bustling performance.

But on a day when left-back Jelle van Damme was given the runaround by Max Gradel, there was precious little else to get excited about from Wolves' point of view.

And McCarthy was in no mood to defend his players afterwards.

"I've spoken to the players about our performance because I wasn't happy," said the boss.

"We didn't play well so we got beaten - and deservedly so. My thoughts were not particularly complimentary. We didn't perform as well as we normally do.

"There are lads who I'd hang my hat on who just didn't play as well as they can."

However, McCarthy insists Wolves will be fine when the real action starts in 12 days' time.

"I don't feel it will have a bearing at all," he said.

"I feel we've got the squad to make some sort of impression in the Premier League. I'm happy with my squad - we have improved it from last season.

"We'll be just as competitive and I'm looking forward to getting started. It's pre-season - when we won the first three I said 'take no notice of the results.'

"In terms of fitness we're alright but I'm more concerned with the performance.

"There are players who need to play better."

But the boss recognised some positives to emerge.

"Steven Fletcher was outstanding, excellent - I was delighted with him," he added. "And Matt Jarvis' performance was good."

Wolves were caught napping when van Damme conceded two free-kicks in the first 21 minutes for fouls against the impressive Gradel, who scored one and set up another.

From the first of Neil Kilkenny's set-pieces, Bradley Johnson flashed a header wide.

The former Birmingham midfielder's second attempt had goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey scrambling away ex-Wolves defender Neill Collins' header.

Johnson drilled just wide with Hennessey rooted to the spot before Wolves' first threat in the 25th minute - a 25-yarder from Adlene Guedioura that drifted fractionally off target.

Fletcher then threaded Jarvis through for a one-on-one that saw Schmeichel smother well.

But it was little surprise when Leeds took the lead in the 36th minute.

Gradel's half-volley ripped into the roof of the net from 30 yards after Guedioura's header partly cleared Jonathan Howson's corner.

Somewhat fortunately for Wolves, Jarvis' curling free-kick from out on the left wing evaded a ruck of bodies to restore parity.

And Fletcher's fiercely-struck angled shot at the start of the second half suggested better things to come.

But any comeback hopes proved shortlived as Leeds regained the lead on 49 minutes.

Gradel teased and tormented van Damme and Christophe Berra before crossing for Lloyd Sam to sweep home from 10 yards. Wolves switched to 4-3-3 just before the hour-mark.

But it was the visitors who were again on the back foot as Hennessey - making his comeback after a back twinge - smothered from Howson after Gradel split the defence.

Wolves' back line was again at sixes and sevens when a long kick from ex-Molineux reserve goalkeeper Shane Higgs saw Sam bearing down on Hennessey, who saved before Craddock blocked the follow-up from the former Charlton man, surviving loud appeals for handball in the process.

We then saw the best and worst of Craddock after last season's Player of the Year was dispossessed by Gradel, who spared Wolves by delaying his shot, before the veteran defender blocked a drive from Kilkenny.

There was a rare moment of quality from Wolves when Fletcher fed substitute Doyle with a peach of a short pass and Higgs somehow tipped the ball onto the post.

But Wolves' performance was summed up by Leeds' third goal, four minutes from time, when Greg Halford failed to jump with Johnson, who planted a header home from Kilkenny's free-kick, awarded after a Berra trip.

"The last goal annoyed me more than anything - just the fact we didn't mark from set-pieces and they had a couple like that."

By Tim Nash