Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Ashley Young made a “bad decision” lunging into foul Diogo Jota while already on a yellow card.
Young was sent off by referee Mike Dean – the 100th red card of Dean’s career – midway through the second half, with the score at 1-1, after sliding in with his studs raised and catching Jota on the shin.
Wolves gathered momentum from that moment and went on to win the game 2-1 courtesy of Chris Smalling’s late own goal.
“When you’re on a yellow you’re always in danger of it being a yellow card again,” said Solskjaer following the defeat. “Probably it was a bad decision by Ashley but in the heat of the moment he reached for the ball and was a little bit too high, it made it more difficult.
“We didn’t get the pressure built that we expected so we kept possession well but then they scored with the first chance they put the ball in the box.”
The result leaves United fifth in the table, having played a game more than their rivals for a top-four finish Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.
“I’m as confident (of top-four finish) as I was three hours ago,” joked Solskjaer. “I said we need 15 points from our last seven games and now we need 15 from our last six. Its difficult but then again, we’re a very good team and it’s going to be difficult for anybody who plays against us.”
