Mancini was at at a loss to understand how City, who dominated the opening phase of the game, went into decline after taking a 23rd-minute lead with Emmanuel Adebayor's spot-kick.

Wolves equalised six minutes later through Nenad Milijas and then David Edwards' first goal for 14 months settled the issue after 56 minutes.

Mancini said: "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.

"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."

Mancini admitted: "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 full-backs ragged in the week."