Wolves boss Stale Solbakken believes luck has left him

Saturday's controversial penalty against them at Middlesbrough was the fourth harsh decision Wolves have suffered from in recent weeks, not to mention up to 10 injuries to the squad.

The Boro spot kick followed a similarly debatable one for Brighton, while Christophe Berra's red card at Watford was later rescinded but too late to rescue the game.

Solbakken's side were also denied a legitimate penalty against Millwall when Danny Shittu's shove on Kevin Doyle - which was given as a free kick - was later proved to be inside the box.

The Wolves boss said: "I always try not to make excuses because it's a results game. But when you look back at the amount of injuries and decisions against us over the last five or six weeks, I have never really experienced anything like it.

"They say that over a season it will all be equal, well if that's the case then I think we have some major fortunate things ahead of us.

"Berra's sending off at Watford maybe cost us the game, we suffered the penalties against Middlesbrough and Brighton and the penalty we didn't get against Millwall.

"Even before that we lost three midfielders to injury in one week, then a couple after that with Dave Edwards etc."

Solbakken was furious at Boro's pivotal penalty which turned the match on Saturday.

But despite the decisions going against his side, the Norwegian refused to blame the standard of refereeing at Championship level.

He said: "It's the same in every league, so I won't go into that discussion. We have had some good refereeing performances, but also some very decisive ones against us.

"That's why the players are reacting in a way, so I understand that. But they've been so clear, they're not even debatable - the Brighton penalty, the Middlesbrough penalty and the sending off.

"They are not marginal - you can just see it for yourself there and then."

Solbakken admits he now has a tough challenge ahead trying to motivate the players.

But he insists they have to put their recent misfortune behind them if they are to mount a promotion challenge.

He said: "We have to put it behind us and not feel sorry for ourselves because it won't help.

"The decisions won't change now, the injuries have been there and we have to deal with it.

"As the leader I must certainly deal with it and lift the players for the coming games."

Solbakken had the players in on Sunday and yesterday trying to work the frustration out of their systems, while those players who didn't start on Saturday were involved in a full-scale practice match at Compton yesterday.

He said: "We trained on Sunday and yesterday we split ourselves into two groups - the guys that played most of the game did a light session and the others played against the reserves in an 11 versus 11 game so they could get on the big pitch.

"We are off today and when we come in tomorrow and Thursday, we will be undertaking our big preparations for Blackpool."