Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Swansea City

Premier League strugglers Swansea and Championship leaders Wolves played out a goalless draw in the FA Cup third round as both sides ended with 10 men.

Wolves' Ruben Vinagre was sent off in the 40th minute for a high lunge on Swans midfielder Nathan Dyer.

Swansea's Leroy Fer was also shown a straight red for a cynical trip on Helder Costa in the 67th minute.

The hosts had the better chances but Swans goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt produced a string of smart saves.

Carlos Carvalhal's visitors came close in the first half when Martin Olsson's free-kick from just outside the penalty area crashed back off the crossbar.

• FA Cup third round - watch all the goals & highlights

A controversial day at Molineux

Championship leaders Wolves played over 50 minutes with 10 men after Ruben Vinagre was sent off

Although the game failed to produce the cup upset many predicted - with Wolves 12 points clear at the top of the Championship and Swansea bottom of the top flight - the afternoon was not short on entertainment.

The first major decision for referee Anthony Taylor came when Vinagre was rightly shown red shortly before the break.

The Portuguese 18-year-old lost control of the ball on the halfway line and lunged in an attempt to win possession back but made contact high on the shin of Dyer with a studs-up challenge.

That decision was clear-cut but the second red card was less so.

Swans midfielder Fer made no attempt to hide his intentions in bringing down Costa as he raced away, but his clip of the heels from behind was not dangerous and was a foul that usually results in a yellow card.

Former Everton midfielder and BBC Final Score pundit Leon Osman said he "could not believe" the decision, adding that it was "never a red", and Swansea's players showed similar surprise when the card was shown, surrounding Taylor to protest.

Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal described Fer's challenge as a "typical yellow card"

Wolves show Premier League credentials

With an expensively assembled squad and 19 wins from 26 second-tier games this season pointing to a serene promotion push, the game offered the opportunity for Nuno Espirito Santo's side to test themselves against Premier League opposition.

The tie finished in end-to-end fashion but for the majority Wolves showed control, creativity and organisation that would not see them look out of place in the top flight.

They forced Nordfeldt into three excellent saves in the opening 25 minutes, the clearest chance a shot from the left side of the box by Morgan Gibbs-White which was saved by the legs of the Swans' goalkeeper.

Moments later the hosts should have gone ahead when the ball fell to Bright Enobakhare, following an aerial challenge between Nordfeldt and Alfred N'Diaye, but the forward blasted a half-volley wide of the left-hand post.

Nuno introduced striker Rafael Mir - signed this week from Valencia - for his debut late on and he almost snatched a winner but for a sliding block from Mike van der Hoorn.

Wolves kept Swansea at bay for the majority and, set-pieces aside, the visitors' best chance was a shot on the counter-attack from Wilfried Bony which was palmed away by Will Norris.

'Everyone felt it was a yellow' - manager reaction

Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo: "I am happy and pleased with the performance of the team. We were the better team on the pitch.

"We deserved to win. We created enough chances and played very good football.

"I agree with both situations on both red cards.

"We controlled the game, even with 10 men. Each time we had the same number of players we were better than them. I am sorry for the result not for the performance."

Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal: "Listen I don't have an opinion on the Wolves red card but my staff said it was a clear red. I didn't see it - but I saw our red card.

"It is a typical yellow card, a touch on the back of the player in the middle of the pitch. Instinctive. Everyone felt it was a yellow card. This is a situation I don't want to talk too much about, but that's two games in a row with bad decisions.

"I am very happy about my players. We had a clean sheet, the commitment was good."