TONY PULIS bemoaned Middlesbrough’s lack of composure in front of goal as they failed to exploit a two-man advantage in a remarkable 2-1 home defeat to Wolves.

Boro spent more than 20 minutes playing against nine men as Ruben Neves and Matt Doherty were both dismissed for picking up two yellow cards in a chaotic encounter that saw the opposition benches clash at the final whistle.

First-half goals from Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro meant Wolves boasted a two-goal cushion when they were reduced to eight outfield players, and while Patrick Bamford clawed a goal back in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Boro were unable to complete their comeback to salvage a point.

Bamford wasted another good opportunity shortly after Neves’ dismissal, failing to adequately control an excellent through ball from Adama Traore, and a host of late chances were squandered as shots were blocked and passes over-hit.

“When they got the player (Neves) sent off, we needed to score a goal early because the momentum then would have carried us through,” said Pulis. “But the opportunities and chances didn’t really come, partly through a bit of good fortune on their part and partly because of a bit of poor quality from us at times. It just wasn’t enough.

“It was a difficult game for the referee for all sorts of reasons, not just the challenges. Stuart (Attwell) has done what he’s seen, he’s a top referee, and he’s managed it and run it the way he’s seen it

“With nine men, you can still put people behind the ball and make it difficult. We just needed that little bit of quality. We needed someone just to do something a little bit special.

“Patrick had a great chance, from a great ball through, but he fell over the pass. If he had taken that forward and finished, then it would have given us more time. We wanted that goal to come earlier.”

There was little sign of what was to follow as Wolves claimed a two-goal lead, but the atmosphere of the game changed entirely when Costa was adjudged to have dived as he went down under a challenge from George Friend.

Wolves’ players were incensed at the decision, and within three minutes, Neves had been dismissed for fouls on Traore and Friend. Doherty was dismissed for fouls on the same two players, and as has been the case in a number of recent games, Pulis was left frustrated at the sight of Traore being upended every time he looked to dribble with the ball.

“We’ve got a situation at this football club where every game we’re playing at the minute, as soon as Adama gets the ball and starts running at people, people just bring him down,” said the Boro boss. “That’s been going on for a while. Stuart has punished them for doing that.”

Boro’s backroom staff were unhappy with the conduct of their opposite numbers in the Wolves dug out from an early stage of proceedings.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo was leaping towards the Boro technical area every time one of his players was fouled in the opening stages of the game, and tensions boiled over at the final whistle as the visitors’ backroom staff raced on to the field to celebrate in front of the visiting fans.

Boro’s goalkeeping coach, Jonathan Gould, appeared to be especially incensed, but Pulis played down what appeared to be a scuffle at the entrance to the tunnel.

“I didn’t see all the incident afterwards because I came straight in,” he said. “They were obviously delighted, they’d just won the game, and I would most probably have been the same. I know the manager jumped, but that’s up to him. He has to do what he has to do.

“To be honest, it was four men coming up every time we gave away a free-kick in the first ten minutes. You’ve got to ask them why they do that. But I thought the fourth official and referee handled the game well.”

With Bristol City, Sheffield United and Preston all having failed to win, Boro remain in the top six ahead of Monday’s trip to struggling Burton Albion. With seven games to play, they are still in the heart of the play-off mix.

“We move on,” said Pulis. “There’s going to be ups and downs, but the disappointing thing today is that we needed that little bit of quality in the final third.

“We’ve got a very important game at Burton now. It’s a different game. It’s a small ground, and I know Nigel (Clough) – he’ll have his players up and fighting for their lives. It will be a tough game for us.”