Parkinson dismayed by Doyle’s ‘stupid’ red card

Doyle, who had already been booked for pulling back Nouha Dicko, saw red after a sliding challenge on Kevin McDonald.

“I am disappointed with Nathan,” said Parkinson. “I think he let us down. The first booking may have been harsh, but once you have got that booking you can’t lunge in in the midfield like that.

“It was a stupid challenge, it is as simple as that, and he has hung the lads out to dry really because on a very difficult, heavy pitch against a good side we have had to go a long period with 10 men.”

Wolves, who had been the better side before Doyle’s dismissal, had to wait until first-half stoppage time to break the deadlock, McDonald curling an effort home from the edge of the area.

City had hit the woodwork by that stage, Adam Reach thumping a shot against the bar during a rare attack.

“We did tremendously well and it was such a shame that we conceded just before half-time because I felt the crowd was just getting edgy,” added Parkinson.

“If we got in 0-0 at half-time I think it would have been a different scenario in the second half.”

Early in the second period Stephen Darby hit a post after exchanging passes with Garry Thompson.

But the result was rarely in doubt and Wolves bagged a second goal just before the hour when Dicko slid in to meet Bakary Sako’s cross and forced it home despite pressure from Darby.

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett said: “Bradford are a very spirited side, well organised, and have a good manager and were unlucky not to get a goal themselves. They had some good strikes and hit the woodwork twice.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers: McCarey; Golbourne, Stearman, Batth, Ricketts; McDonald, Price, Jacobs; Sako (Henry 60), Dicko, Clarke. Unused substitutes: Doherty, Elokobi, Evans, McAlinden, Ebanks-Landell, Flatt.

Bradford City: McLaughlin; Darby, Bates, McArdle, McHugh; Jones, Doyle, Reach, Thompson (Graham 76); McLean (Atkinson 31), Gray (McBurnie 67). Unused substitutes: Jameson, Taylor, Stockdill, Pollard

Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland).

Bradford man of the match: Carl McHugh.