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Mancini bemoans worst performance of the season

Nenad Milijas grabbed Wolves' first goal © PA Photos

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Manchester City's shock defeat at Wolves was their worst performance of the season, according to manager Roberto Mancini.

City started brightly at Molineux and deservedly took the lead when Emmanuel Adebayor converted from the penalty spot after David Silva was felled by Richard Stearman.

But the home side hit back when Nenad Milijas fired in a low shot from the edge of the area, before winger David Edwards finished from close range in the second half. And Mancini admitted he was at a loss to explain how his team had lost a game that looked firmly in their control.

"We only played for the first 25 minutes. We played very well during that period of the game and had four or five chances to score," said the Italian. "But then we stopped playing and Wolves deserved to win this game. It was the worse game we have played.

"I don't know why we this happened but we must regroup and understand why this happened. Maybe we thought after 20 minutes that it was an easy game. A team can lose but you can't lose like we did after playing like that for 60-70 minutes.

"This was the sort of game you have to win if you want to challenge for the title. You must play all games at 115%. I must understand very quickly why this happened. But the season is long, we started it very well and there is time to recover.''

Wolves ended a run of six league games without a win but manager Mick McCarthy insisted: "That result has been coming for a few weeks. We deserved to win today.

"When you are bottom, but playing well, with a great spirit, it sounds really hollow when you say things like that. But this performance and result summed it all up for me. Without our team spirit, we would be history. I have been saying that for weeks.''

Winger Matt Jarvis turned in another excellent display to press his England claims. McCarthy explained: "He has been excellent. He is giving everyone problems. Last weekend, he gave Ashley Cole as difficult a time as he has had and ran the two Manchester United fullbacks ragged in the week.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.