Brentford 1-1 Wolves: Diego Costa sent off in closing stages of gritty draw

Diego Costa apologised to his Wolves team-mates after being sent off in second-half stoppage time of their draw at Brentford.

"He's apologised," said interim head coach Steve Davis. "When emotions are high it is difficult to discuss things, but we'll have a conversation with him next week."

Earlier, Ruben Neves' equaliser had cancelled out Mee's superb volley early in the second half to help Wolves to a point that moved them up one place to 18th.

An attritional and injury-laden first half gave way to a livelier second period, with Brentford's Ivan Toney missing from close range late on.

But the Bees' prolific striker was also booked for his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will miss their next outing against Nottingham Forest.

Costa had been brought in specifically to improve Wolves' threat in front of goal, but no goals in six appearances and now an absence until the end of the year is not what the Wolves hierarchy or fans would have wanted.

He was Wolves' only fit frontline striker before kick-off, with Raul Jimenez absent since August with a groin problem. Jimenez is in Mexico's provisional squad for the World Cup and it remains to be seen if he will play in any of his club's three matches before the World Cup begins.

"It will open up doors for other players or maybe we will play in a different way," Davis added.

Costa, 34, had become more of a threat as the game developed and forced David Raya into making a save with a shot from a tight angle, before being dismissed for the first time in the Premier League.

His clash with Mee on the edge of Brentford's box late in the game was referred to VAR and when referee Bobby Madley consulted the pitchside monitor, it felt inevitable that the ex-Chelsea forward would see a straight red card.

Last week's 4-0 defeat by Leicester City had featured chants from sections of Wolves' Molineux support aimed at technical director Scott Sellars, who was later defended by interim head coach Steve Davis.

And their struggles in front of goal this season, with only five scored before kick-off, continued with substitute Joao Moutinho coming closest in the first half when his volley direct from a corner was deflected away by Mee.

But the Brentford centre-back's goal stung them into action, with Neves being picked out with a pass from the right from Nelson Semedo before he shot past a motionless Raya into the bottom corner

The home side were tentative before the break, and like the visitors did not manage a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

Toney, whose eight goals pre kick-off were more than Wolves' entire tally for the season so far, fluffed a chance when he slipped over in the area but Josh Dasilva was much closer with a fine curling shot that shaped just wide.

Thomas Frank's side were livelier from the start of the second half, and an exchange of passes from a corner then saw Bryan Mbeumo's cross brilliantly converted by Mee.

Rocked back by Neves' goal just 109 seconds later, they came closest to retaking the lead when Dasilva's on-target effort drew a vital block from Nathan Collins.

An unmarked Toney missed a header from close range with just under 10 minutes left, and after Mee had grappled with Costa the Bees could not take advantage of having an extra player and had to settle for their sixth draw of the league campaign.