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 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 Leeds keepeer 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.

Runaround

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 and so we got beat - 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."

But McCarthy believes 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 - we've 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 all right but I'm more concerned with the performance."

By Tim Nash