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Wolves 0 Ipswich 2 – Mick McCarthy wins on Molineux return

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Wolves 0 Ipswich 2: McCarthy has the last laugh on Molineux return as pressure builds on Solbakken

PUBLISHED:

17:11 GMT, 29 December 2012

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UPDATED:

17:44 GMT, 29 December 2012

Mick McCarthy enjoyed a winning return to Molineux as his Ipswich side piled further misery on former club Wolves and under-pressure boss Stale Solbakken.

McCarthy was back in the Black Country for the first time since being sacked in February, ending a six-year spell with Wanderers, and was joined by assistant Terry Connor, who succeeded him in the Wolves hot seat before himself being replaced by Norwegian Solbakken in the summer.

A great ovation greeted the pair before kick-off and they also ended up having the last laugh amid a chorus of boos which rung around Molineux as Wolves' miserable season continued.

Opener: Aaron Cresswell celebrates his strike

Opener: Aaron Cresswell celebrates his strike

Match facts

Wolves: Ikeme; Foley, Johnson, Berra, Ward; Sigurdarson, Henry (O'Hara 66), Davis (Doumbia 66), Sako; Doyle (Pennant 66), Ebanks-Blake.

Subs not used: De Vries, Stearman, Batth, Forde.

Booked: Ebanks-Blake.

Ipswich: Henderson; Orr, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell; Edwards, Drury (Reo-Coker 71), N'Daw, Murphy; Martin; Campbell (Chopra 81).

Subs not used: Loach, Higginbotham, Hyam, Emmanuel-Thomas, Scotland.

Booked: Martin, Campbell.

Goals: Cresswell 33, Campbell 64.

Referee: Darren Drysdale.

Attendance: 28,595.

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Aaron Cresswell's well-worked goal and
neat finish, his third of the season, opened the scoring in the 33rd
minute, and the points were secured by DJ Campbell just after the hour
mark when he found himself clean through, a 10th goal in 16 appearances
for the on-loan QPR striker.

McCarthy has now guided Ipswich to seven wins in 12 games since taking
the reins at the start of November, compared to one in 13 prior to his
appointment.

McCarthy kept faith with the same XI for a fifth successive game while
Solbakken made two changes in response to the embarrassing 3-0 home
defeat to Peterborough on Boxing Day, Bjorn Sigurdarson and David Davis
coming in.

And it was Wolves who should have been awarded a penalty after just two
minutes as Kevin Doyle latched onto Christophe Berra's long ball only to
be bundled over by Luke Chambers, who went unpunished.

Lee Martin immediately fired off target at the other end when he really
should have done better, with the Town wide man shooting straight at
Carl Ikeme soon after.

A tale of two bosses: Solbakken (left) greets McCarthy before the game

A tale of two bosses: Solbakken (left) greets McCarthy before the game

Wolves' influential winger Bakary Sako twice sent efforts wide before
the half-hour mark but there was very little to trouble either
goalkeeper.

That was until the 33rd minute when Cresswell opened the scoring in
style.

The left-back ventured forward and, having laid the ball off,
continued his run and received it back before finishing right footed
inside the far post.
The home side produced very little in response and were duly booed off at the interval.

Guirane N'Daw almost caught out Ikeme with a great 30-yard effort immediately after half-time.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, a reported January target for McCarthy, sent a teasing ball across goal which Doyle failed to connect with.

A real lull in proceedings passed until the hour mark but the game was lit up by Campbell's second.

The forward raced onto Bradley Orr's long ball and waited for the right moment before sending a composed finish under Ikeme.

Solbakken immediately made a triple substitution, with the withdrawal of Doyle greeted by fierce opposition from supporters.

And they voiced more displeasure at the full-time whistle as Town
celebrated their first win at Molineux in 21 years, with substitute
Michael Chopra wasting a great chance for a third in injury time.

Wolves 0 Peterborough 3 – Match report

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Wolves 0 Peterborough 3: Three and easy for Posh as they move towards safety

PUBLISHED:

17:37 GMT, 26 December 2012

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UPDATED:

17:37 GMT, 26 December 2012

Peterborough made it three momentous wins on the bounce as Wolves joined Cardiff and Bolton on the growing list of recent sides slayed by resurgent Posh.

Goals from Lee Tomlin, Tommy Rowe and Dwight Gayle did the damage as Darren Ferguson's side received the perfect Christmas present by lifting themselves off the foot of the npower Championship.

Wolves boss Stale Solbakken named Bjorn Sigurdarson on the bench following a thigh injury, but defender Georg Margreitter (hamstring) was again sidelined following another setback on the road to recovery.

Winning feeling: Tommy Rowe celebrates after scoring his goal as Peterborough edge towards another three points

Winning feeling: Tommy Rowe celebrates after scoring his goal as Peterborough edge towards another three points

Match facts

Wolverhampton: Ikeme, Foley, Johnson, Berra, Ward (Sigurdarson 46), Pennant (Davis 76), Henry, Doumbia, Sako,Ebanks-Blake (O'Hara 76), Doyle.

Subs Not Used: De Vries, Stearman, Batth, Forde.

Booked: Pennant.

Peterborough: Olejnik, Knight-Percival, Zakuani, Bostwick, Little, Newell (Ferdinand 81), Boyd, Thorne (McCann 86), Rowe, Tomlin (Swanson 81),Gayle.

Subs Not Used: Day, Alcock, Brisley, Kearns.

Goals: Tomlin 17, Rowe 43, Gayle 69.

Attendance: 23,033

Referee: Mark Heywood

Latest Championship table, fixtures and results

And it was the hosts who showed the early intent when an outswinging corner from Jermaine Pennant after five minutes was met by Roger Johnson and his header was smartly tipped over by Posh keeper Robert Olejnik.

At the other end, Carl Ikeme in the Wolves goal had to be alert to turn away a 12-yard effort from Gayle as Ferguson's side showed their own attacking inclinations.

It had turned into a full-blooded festive encounter with no quarter given by either side in the hunt for crucial Championship points.

And having weathered the early Wolves storm, the visitors took the lead after 17 minutes through Tomlin.

Joe Newell provided the opportunity and when his cross from the left was not dealt with, in nipped Tomlin to strike home his eighth of the campaign from 12 yards.

It could have got worse for the hosts three minutes later but George Boyd cleared the bar when well placed inside the penalty box.

Christmas cheer: Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson saw his side win again

Christmas cheer: Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson saw his side win again

Kevin Doyle was then ideally placed to net an equaliser but Olejnik denied the striker from only six yards.

Pennant fired over with a free-kick as Wolves looked to get back on terms before the break, but Ferguson would have been impressed with his side's application in the opening half.

Solid in defence, Posh also looked potent on the break and seven minutes from the interval, Newell had the chance of adding a second before a well-timed block by Johnson got in the way of his 18-yard effort.

Doyle twice went close to levelling, while Stephen Ward saw his effort parried by Olejnik as the half-time whistle approached and the visitors rode their luck.

But a sucker punch at the other end of the field doubled Peterborough's lead after 43 minutes. This time Boyd was the provider, Rowe finishing with aplomb from 20 yards.

Ward was replaced by Sigurdarson as the second half began, with Wolves well aware the next goal was crucial.

Pennant went close again for the home side, but it was Peterborough's day and after 69 minutes Mark Little's cross was met by Gayle to make it 3-0 and secure another valuable victory for Posh.

Middlesbrough 2 Wolves 0 – match report:

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Middlesbrough 2 Wolves 0: Late Boro double sinks visitors in tight affair at Riverside

PUBLISHED:

17:28 GMT, 15 December 2012

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UPDATED:

17:40 GMT, 15 December 2012

Middlesbrough grabbed two late goals to move back into third in the npower Championship as Wolves' unbeaten December was ended at the Riverside.

Stale Solbakken's side, who had started the month with back-to-back wins, had not won on Teesside since 1951 although they seemed on course for a point until Marvin Emnes' penalty and Scott McDonald's strike sealed three points for Boro.

Wolves substitute David Davis went close late on with an effort which looked to be heading in until a deflection diverted it into goalkeeper Jason Steele's arms.

Close call: Middlesbrough scored two goals late on to steal the win

Close call: Middlesbrough scored two goals late on to steal the win

MATCH FACTS

Middlesbrough: Steele, Friend (Parnaby 80), Woodgate, Hines, Hoyte, Luke Williams (Emnes 62), McEachran, Leadbitter, Smallwood, Miller (Ledesma 62), McDonald.

Subs Not Used: Leutwiler, Thomson, Bailey, Jutkiewicz.

Booked: Leadbitter.

Goals: Emnes 89 pen,McDonald 90.

Wolves: Ikeme, Foley, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Doumbia (Davis 74), Henry, Sigurdarson, Sako, Ebanks-Blake (Pennant 74), Doyle.

Subs Not Used: De Vries, Stearman, Nouble, Batth, Forde.

Attendance: 15,662

Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire).

The latest Championship table, fixtures and results

The turning point came moments later
as referee Robert Madley awarded a spot-kick to the hosts when a cross
struck Karl Henry's arm.

The visitors were adamant the contact
was purely accidental with Henry keeping his arms by his side, but the
penalty was awarded and Emnes sent Carl Ikeme the wrong way in the 89th
minute.

To rub salt into the wounds, McDonald smashed in a second in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Wolves pushed for a leveller.

The hosts were the first to go close as Luke Williams forced Ikeme into a stop.

Ishmael Miller, who was given a
chance to shine with both Emnes and Lukas Jutkiewicz on the substitutes'
bench, tried to repay Tony Mowbray's faith in him as a blistering
counter-attack ended with the former West Brom forward curling a
left-footed effort over the top.

Both sides looked more comfortable on the break and Henry's good work almost culminated in a golden chance for the visitors.

Henry darted forward down the left
and pulled the ball across goal as Jonathan Woodgate had to step with a
last-ditch challenge to stop Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sweeping home.

Wolves midfielder Bakary Sako was
never shy of trying his luck from distance and a free-kick which just
went wide was as close as either team came to a first-half opener.

Chances were at a premium and Sakho again drilled an effort in from range with Steele right behind it.

Mowbray tried to inject some life
into his side with the double introduction of tricky winger Emmanuel
Ledesma and Emnes, and the former jinked inside before firing straight
at Ikeme.

At the other end, Kevin Doyle's
vicious effort almost caught Steele out with its movement, though the
stopper pushed it wide and away from danger.

The visitors looked the more likely
to grab a late goal and substitute Davis thought he had clinched three
points, but his effort was deflected into Steele's path.

Moments later Boro were awarded a
penalty when McDonald's cross struck Henry on the arm, despite Wolves'
protestations that the contact was purely accidental.

Emnes stroked home the spot-kick and
he then turned provider, teeing up McDonald as Middlesbrough made a
three-on-two break count.

Wolves 1 Birmingham 0 match report:

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Wolves 1 Birmingham 0: King scores at wrong end to hand derby win to Solbakken's men

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UPDATED:

19:43 GMT, 8 December 2012

Marlon King's own goal handed Wolves the derby spoils as they saw off neighbours Birmingham at Molineux.

King has bagged 13 goals for City this season, but he found the net at the wrong end in the first half to hand Wanderers their first home win in seven attempts stretching back to late September.

The striker sliced past Jack Butland when attempting to clear Bakary Sako's drilled free-kick at the front post, with Nathan Redmond also guilty of turning his back on the ball as part of a one-man wall.

Unlucky: Marlon King put the ball in his own goal

Unlucky: Marlon King put the ball in his own goal

MATCH FACTS

Wolves: Ikeme, Ward, Johnson, Berra, Foley, Henry, Sako, Doumbia (Davis 74), Ebanks-Blake (Pennant 84), Sigurdarson, Doyle

Subs not used: De Vries, Stearman, Batth, Forde, Nouble

Booked: Johnson

Goal: 34 (og)

Birmingham: Butland, Caldwell, Davies, Spector (Morrison 46), Caddis, Robinson, Mullins, Elliott, Redmond (Lovenkrands 72), King, Hall (Burke 80)

Subs not used: Doyle, Packwood, Hancox, Morrison, Diop

Booked: Robinson, Mullins

Referee: Taylor

Attendance: 21,339

The latest Championship table, results and fixtures

Wolves put in a much-improved
performance after the break and enjoyed several chances to extend their
advantage, but profligate finishing and some superb saves from Butland
ensured the result hung in the balance until the final whistle.

It was only the second time Wolves
have won back-to-back games this season after last weekend's 4-1 triumph
at Bristol City, a result which ended a nine-match winless streak.

Birmingham went into the clash also
underperforming this term and struggling at the wrong end of the npower
Championship table, although it was they who started the better, Paul
Caddis seeing his curling effort from 20 yards well parried away by Carl
Ikeme.

Bjorn Sigurdarson found the
side-netting for the hosts after good work down the left by Sako before
Ikeme had to be alert once again to tip over after Roger Johnson and
Jonathan Spector tussled to get on the end of Redmond's set-piece.

Blues were certainly posing the
greater attacking threat and looking the more lively, but Wolves were
steadily coming into the game more as the first half wore on.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake saw his appeals
for a penalty waved away before Kevin Doyle put the ball into the net
only to be denied by the assistant's flag.

But Wolves did get the breakthrough just minutes later.

Ebanks-Blake went down easily under a
soft challenge from Steven Caldwell right on the byline outside the
penalty area. Sako whipped in the resulting free-kick and King could
only divert the ball into his own net at the near post when trying to
clear.

It was a goal Wolves arguably did not
deserve on the overall balance of play in the first half, but that will
not have mattered much to under-pressure manager Stale Solbakken.

Wolves have been heavily criticised of late for lethargic second-half performances, but that was certainly not the case tonight.

Sigurdarson found himself clean
through almost immediately after the restart only to fire straight at
Butland, although the assistant's flag was raised.

Doyle's driving run ended with a shot
narrowly wayward of Butland's left-hand post before Sako finished
another mazy venture forward with an effort off target as Wanderers
dominated.

Stephen Ward brought a solid save out
of Butland at his near post, with Curtis Davies deflecting Doyle's shot
on to the top of the crossbar from the resulting corner.

Butland then produced a superb instinctive save to keep out Sigurdarson's header from Sako's corner, keeping Blues in the game.

But they could not force a late
leveller and Wolves were left celebrating only their third derby success
over their local rivals in 15 attempts.

Wolves 0 Millwall 1 – match report: Andy Keogh strikes

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Wolves 0 Millwall 1: Keogh punishes his old side and turns heat up on Solbakken

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UPDATED:

22:23 GMT, 27 November 2012

Andy Keogh piled the pressure on his former employers and under-fire manager Stale Solbakken as in-form Millwall extended their unbeaten run to 12 games.

The striker, who swapped Wolves for the Lions in January after five years at Molineux, proved the inevitable matchwinner with a 79th-minute effort after being teed up by on-loan West Brom strike partner Chris Wood.

Wanderers boss Solbakken will be growing increasingly concerned with his side's struggles having now gone nine matches without a win, slipping from third place in the npower Championship table to 18th.

That'll do: Andy Keogh is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring the only goal of the game

That'll do: Andy Keogh is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring the only goal of the game

MATCH FACTS

Wolverhampton: Ikeme (De Vries 66), Stearman (Ebanks-Blake 82), Johnson, Berra, Ward, Pennant (Forde 69), Edwards, Sigurdarson, Davis, Sako, Doyle.

Subs Not Used: Nouble, Batth, Doumbia, Foley.

Millwall: Forde, Adam Smith, Shittu, Beevers, Lowry, Feeney (N'Guessan 73), Abdou, Wright, Chris Taylor, Keogh (Jack Smith 90), Wood.

Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Racon, Osborne, Malone, O'Brien.

Goals: Keogh 79.

Att: 18,174

Ref: Michael Naylor (Sheffield).

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More worrying will be his team's
constant inability to perform in the second half, with tonight no
exception following a dominant first-half display.

Wolves were booed off at the full-time whistle, with home supporters having not witnessed a home victory since late September.

The Black Country club went into the
encounter second-bottom in a form table which was led by Millwall, who
have now won their last four games thanks to Keogh's fifth goal of the
season to rise up to fifth place.

The first half's biggest talking point
arrived with 12 minutes on the clock as Danny Shittu brought down Kevin
Doyle when moving into the penalty area, but the challenge was deemed
to have been made just outside the box by referee Michael Naylor.

Wolves, inspired by Bakary Sako after
he passed a fitness test on a thigh strain, had certainly made the more
promising start although they had failed to seriously test Lions
goalkeeper David Forde in the opening quarter.

Christophe Berra made a great challenge to nick the ball off the toe of Wood as he threatened to break clear for the visitors.

Bjorn Sigurdarson came close to
connecting with Sako's cross as the game started to flow from end to
end, with Adam Smith then finding the side-netting from the right of the
penalty area for Millwall.

But the excitement which dominated the
opening half an hour dissipated as the first half wore on, with the
game goalless at the interval.

Chris Taylor fired wide from distance
within 51 seconds of the restart as Millwall broke swiftly on the
counter before Keogh then tried his luck.

Doyle sent a shot off target for the
hosts but, as has so often been the case this season, Wolves were
considerably off the pace after the restart.

Wood came close to getting on the end of a ball into the box as Millwall looked the more likely to make the breakthrough.

Solbakken was given another dilemma as
goalkeeper Carl Ikeme suffered a hand injury and was eventually forced
off in the 66th minute.

However, despite Wolves' inadequacies Millwall were hardly looking seriously threatening themselves.

The home side finally enjoyed a
second-half shot with 76 minutes on the clock – much to the ironic joy
of the home support – as Dave Edwards fired over.

But those supporters were soon
watching Millwall fans celebrate as Wood held the ball up well and laid
off for Keogh to fire home from 12 yards.

Wanderers substitute Sylvan Ebanks-Blake twice came close to an equaliser but it did not come for Wolves.

Burnley 2 Wolves 0: Match report

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Burnley 2 Wolves 0: Dyche off to a flyer as Paterson and Austin strike

PUBLISHED:

17:29 GMT, 3 November 2012

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UPDATED:

17:29 GMT, 3 November 2012

Sean Dyche's reign as Burnley manager got off to a fine start as a goal in each half deservedly saw off a lacklustre Wolves.

Martin Paterson gave the Clarets an 18th-minute lead and Dean Marney should have doubled the hosts' advantage before half-time.

Charlie Austin was left unattended to head a his 19th goal of an already phenomenal season as Wolves' defence – haphazardly marshalled by their beleaguered captain Roger Johnson – threatened to unravel.

Austin maestro: Charlie Austin (centre) celebrates after scoring the second goal

Austin maestro: Charlie Austin (centre) celebrates after scoring the second goal

Match facts

BURNLEY: Grant, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Edgar, Stock, Marney (Stanislas 81), Wallace (Ings 70), Austin, Paterson (Vokes 90). Subs not used: Jensen, Long, Stewart, Lafferty.

Goals: Paterson 18, Austin 53

Booked: Duff, Mee, Wallace

WOLVES: Ikeme, Foley, Berra, Johnson (Edwards 69), Ward, Pennant (Forde 68), Sako, Henry, Doumbia, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake. Subs not used: De Vries, Stearman, Sigurdarson, Batth, Davis.

Booked: Johnson, Ebanks-Blake

Referee: Mark Haywood

Att: 12,295

Latest Championship table, fixtures and results

Bakary Sako rattled the post from distance for Stale Solbakken's side but they were unable to rally effectively.

A second successive home clean sheet
offers further encouragement for Dyche as he begins his efforts to cure
Burnley's defensive woes this term. Wolves, meanwhile, drop to ninth in
the npower Championship table, one point above their opponents who move
to 13th.

Ross Wallace and Ben Mee returned to
the Burnley line-up following injury and suspension respectively, while
Canada international David Edgar was handed a first start for almost a
month – taking on an unfamiliar midfield role in place of Chris McCann.

Wolves were unchanged from last weekend's 1-1 home draw against Charlton.

In the fifth minute Burnley
centre-back Michael Duff swept the ball forward and, after some neat
interplay, Ross Wallace fizzed a left-footed effort over from the edge
of the box.

Wallace was relieved to see a yellow
card from referee Mark Haywood moments later having clipped the heels of
Kevin Doyle as the Wolves striker broke clear.

Some more patient passing at the back from the hosts was rewarded when they took an the lead.

Left-back Mee spotted the opening,
arching a precise ball around the back of the Wolves back four for
Paterson to dart into the area and slot coolly below Wolves goalkeeper
Carl Ikeme.

Marney should have doubled Burnley's advantage as half-time approached.

Johnson ceded possession to the
former Hull midfielder, who drove straight at Ikeme when squaring to
either Paterson or Austin appeared to be the better option.

Within a minute of that let-off,
Wolves almost levelled when Sako dragged a shot across the face of goal
and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake almost stole in with the vital touch.

Austin collected Brian Stock's pass
and stormed into the box before firing over the angle of post and bar
two minutes into the second period.

The former Swindon man's goal duly
arrived in the 53rd minute as he won a corner and was unmarked to head
home Wallace's delivery.

Johnson was enduring a torrid
afternoon by this stage and was perhaps fortunate to escape with a
booking when he appeared to catch Austin with an elbow.

Sako almost dragged his side back
into the match when he drove forward and slammed a shot against the
upright. Ebanks-Blake and Doyle failed to pick up the scraps.

Another seemingly inevitable lapse from Johnson let in Austin to seal the points after the hour but Ikeme came out on top.

Burnley's momentum was interrupted in
worrying fashion when Wallace went down following an aerial challenge
with Jermaine Pennant, received oxygen on the pitch and left on a
stretcher to be replaced by Danny Ings.

Wolves failed to force the issue as
the clock ran down and Clarets substitute Sam Vokes almost increased the
misery for his former club in stoppage time.

Blackburn 0 Wolves 1: Match report

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Blackburn 0 Wolves 1: Soko goal sinks Rovers as fans flock back to Ewood

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UPDATED:

16:36 GMT, 6 October 2012

Wolves striker Bakary Sako's spectacular strike 12 minutes from time ensured Blackburn's first home game of the post Steve Kean era ended in defeat.

A crowd of 17,034 was comfortably Rovers' highest of the season as hoards of disgruntled fans returned to Ewood Park to mark the end of Kean's deeply unpopular reign.

But they were subjected to a lacklustre performance as caretaker boss Eric Black stuck with the five-man defence that secured a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest in midweek, leaving forwards Jordan Rhodes and Colin Kazim-Richards to probe manfully with little service.

Take that: Wolves Bakary Sako celebrates with Anthony Forde after scoring the winning goal for his side

Take that: Wolves Bakary Sako celebrates with Anthony Forde after scoring the winning goal for his side

Match facts

Blackburn: Robinson, Orr, Dann, Givet, Martin Olsson, Formica (Nunes 46), Grant Hanley, Murphy, Lowe (Etuhu 72), Kazim-Richards, Rhodes.

Subs Not Used: Kean, Dunn, Pedersen, Rochina, Nuno Gomes.

Wolverhampton: Ikeme, Stearman (Forde 53), Johnson, Berra, Foley, Davis (Zubar 61), Doumbia, Henry, Ward, Sako, Ebanks-Blake (Batth 87).

Subs Not Used: McCarey, Nouble, Jonsson, Margreitter.

Booked: Henry, Sako.

Goal: Sako 78.

Attendance: 17,034

Referee: Nigel Miller

Click here for the latest npower Championship results, fixtures and table

Rhodes had claims for penalties rejected in each half and his strike partner spurned Rovers' best chance shortly after Sako's magnificent long-range effort left goalkeeper Paul Robinson with no chance.

Stale Solbakken's Wolves leapfrog their opponents to go third on the back of three consecutive wins on the road, while Blackburn fall to ninth with no victory in four matches.

Wolves started the brighter of the two sides and Sako drew a fine early save from Robinson, firing a loose ball through a crowd of defenders.

Moments after a robust challenge from Karl Henry on Kazim-Richards went unpunished, Rovers had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Nigel Miller when Rhodes went to ground under the attentions of Richard Stearman.

The visitors should have taken the lead in the 19th minute, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake thudding a header against the post from Kevin Foley's cross.

Happy man: Wolves manager Stale Solbakken celebrates at the end of the game

Happy man: Wolves manager Stale Solbakken celebrates at the end of the game

Kazim-Richards almost found a vital touch at the end of Martin Olsson's teasing left-wing cross before the Blackburn striker was clattered on the knee with half an hour gone – Henry failing to escape a booking on this occasion following a heated altercation.

Rhodes' poachers instincts were on display five minutes before half-time when he collected the scraps from a goalmouth scramble to force a reaction stop from Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme.

The Scotland international striker had another penalty shout turned down early in the second half when he grappled with Roger Johnson and continued to look like Rovers' main threat despite little ammunition.

In the 51st minute Blackburn winger Fabio Nunes mishit a cross that landed on the top of the net with Ikeme scrambling.

Wolves got bodies in the way of speculative efforts from Bradley Orr, Danny Murphy and Kazim-Richards before the visitors regained the attacking impetus they showed in the first half.

Substitute Anthony Forde might have done better when he curled beyond the far post following excellent work from Sako.

In he 78th minute, Sako decided to do the work himself to glorious effect.
Blackburn only partially cleared a corner and the ball fell to the Frenchman, who took a fine first touch to engineer space and rifled a superb 25-yard effort beyond Robinson.

Rovers almost levelled moments later when Nunes produced a delicious cross that caused confusion between Ikeme and Wolves centre-back Christophe Berra, but Kazim-Richards could not direct his close-range header goalwards.

As the hosts belatedly committed men forward, Forde burst forward on the counter attack in stoppage time but blazed wide with only Robinson to beat and fellow substitute Ronald Zubar unmarked.

Wolves 1 Crystal Palace 2: Wilfried Zaha scores twice

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Wolves 1 Crystal Palace 2: Zaha stuns hosts with inspired double

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UPDATED:

22:21 GMT, 2 October 2012

The journey from precocious talent to established star is not always a straightforward one but Wilfried Zaha appears to be treading the right path.

Turning a match on its head is never easy, especially against a defence which had not been breached for three successive games.

Zaha did that, and more, scoring two goals of exquisite individual quality to enhance his rapidly growing reputation.

Brace yourself: Zaha scored a second-half double as Palace came from behind

Brace yourself: Zaha scored a second-half double as Palace came from behind

Match facts

Wolverhampton: Ikeme, Foley (Edwards 82), Berra, Johnson, Ward, Peszko (Sigurdarson 69), Doumbia, Henry (Davis 58), Sako,
Ebanks-Blake,Doyle.

Subs Not Used: De Vries, Stearman, Batth, Forde.

Booked: Henry.

Goals: Ebanks-Blake 53.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Blake, Moxey, Williams (Parr 71), Garvan, Jedinak, Zaha (Ramage 88), Murray, Bolasie (Moritz 62).

Subs Not Used: Price, Goodwillie, Wilbraham, O'Keefe.

Goals: Zaha 67, 73.

Attendance: 19,561

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).

Latest Championship results, fixtures and table

At the point that Zaha wriggled his way through a stubborn backline, Wolves were a goal to the good thanks to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and surely expecting to make it five straight npower Championship wins.

Zaha is hardly a secret. The 19-year-old captured the imagination last season with his exploits against Manchester United in the League Cup and has been firmly anchored to Selhurst Park with a five-year contract.

Money, apparently, will not prise him away. According to manager Dougie Freedman, he will know when it is time to wave goodbye to the teenager.

‘I’ve known him since he was 14 so it’s more than a professional relationship, it’s a bit different,’ said Freedman.

‘The kid has got huge potential and hopefully can fulfil that. Off the ball he is getting better and if he develops his game he can play at the top level.

‘If I think the time is right and I can’t develop him then top clubs should take him on. We don’t owe any money so that’s not how it works.’

Zaha was at the centre of everything good about Palace. He also had a penalty appeal turned down in the first half.

One of the first people who should pat the striker on the back is Damien Delaney, who hesitated when Julian Speroni rolled the ball towards him.

Ebanks-Blake robbed the defender and duly collected his fifth goal of the season.

A tight contest looked to have been settled but that did not account for Zaha and his six-minute double.

Wolves boss Stale Solbakken insisted afterwards that the Palace striker was offside when he ran on to Glenn Murray’s knock-down but is was a close call and the finish was glorious.

For the second, Zaha took possession, left Stephen Ward for dead and produced a shot with far too much sting for Carl Ikeme.

There was sting in other parts of the pitch too. Jonny Williams and Karl Henry enjoyed a physical duel and Williams appeared to be lucky to get away with a tackle on Slawomir Peszko, which left the winger facing a six-week lay-off with a knee ligament injury.

Williams was substituted afterwards with Freedman admitting: ‘I know him inside out and it was not intentional. I just felt it was best to take him off as he has to learn how to channel certain aspects of his game. But he was getting kicked all night too.’

Solbakken said: ‘They had a match-winning player who scored both goals. I think we were unlucky.’

Chelsea 6 Wolves 0: John Terry captains Chelsea in rout

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Chelsea 6 Wolves 0: Terry skippers Blues cruise at the Bridge

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UPDATED:

22:20 GMT, 25 September 2012

If John Terry fears he is about to be thrown to the wolves by the FA, he can only hope they turn out to be as feeble as the sorry pack dragged down to London by Stale Solbakken.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Norwegian manager sent out his reserves here and they were promptly destroyed by a Chelsea team captained by Terry.

Blues cruise: Chelsea thumped Wolves at Stamford Bridge

Blues cruise: Chelsea thumped Wolves at Stamford Bridge

MATCH FACTS

Chelsea: Turnbull; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Bertrand; Ramires (Oscar 59), Romeu; Piazon, Mata (Marin 70), Moses; Torres (Hazard 78).

Subs not used: Hilario, Luiz, Ferreira, Mikel.

Goals: Cahill 4, Bertrand 8, Mata 17, Romeu (pen) 53, Torres 58, Moses 71.

Wolves: De Vries; Stearman, Zubar, Batth, Margreitter; Peszko (Zeli Ismail 83), Edwards, Davis, Boukhari (Nouble 63), Hunt (Forde 46); Sigurdarson.

Subs not used: Ikeme, Foley, Johnson, Price.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick.

Attendance: 32,569.

After two days in front of a
disciplinary commission, looking on as lawyers grappled with the legal
complications of his FA racism charge, this will have served as an ideal
distraction.

Back in the warm embrace of the Chelsea
fans, Terry performed as if without a care as his side breezed into the
fourth round of the Capital One Cup.

He started the game by saluting supporters in the Matthew Harding Stand
who serenaded him with, ‘There’s only one England captain’, and left the
pitch after a six-goal stroll, blowing kisses, waving and patting the
badge on his chest.

‘We wanted John to start,’ said Eddie Newton, Chelsea’s assistant
manager. ‘With everything happening with the FA, we had to see how it
panned out but we had a phone call that he was making his way back nice
and early. We’d covered all the bases, all the scenarios, and the best
one happened.’

In the spotlight: Terry is currently part of ongoing FA disciplinary hearing

In the spotlight: Terry is currently part of ongoing FA disciplinary hearing

In the spotlight: Terry is currently part of ongoing FA disciplinary hearing

Roberto Di Matteo will take the same flexible approach to Saturday’s game at Arsenal, according to Newton.

Terry had left Wembley six-and-a-half hours before Tuesday night’s
kick-off, after sitting through five hours of legal argument at the FA
hearing which will continue on Wednesday.

Opener: Cahill (centre) is mobbed after his early strike

Opener: Cahill (centre) is mobbed after his early strike

The crowd was well below capacity but there were lusty cheers for their captain’s name when the teams were announced.

This would be a theme of the evening, at least when the home crowd were
not jeering Stephen Hunt, never to be forgotten or forgiven in these
parts for his challenge on Petr Cech six years ago.

Double trouble: Bertrand scores the second for Chelsea

Double trouble: Bertrand scores the second for Chelsea

Cech was among those given the night off as Di Matteo blended the
experience of Terry, Ramires and Fernando Torres with some of his
newcomers. Lucas Piazon, Cesar Azpilicueta and Victor Moses started
their first games and Marko Marin came off the bench 20 minutes from
time to make his debut.

Of the six different scorers, Gary Cahill struck first, although Wolves
had every right to feel aggrieved. Ronald Zubar seemed to win the ball
but was penalised for a foul on Moses and then Cahill scrambled over
Richard Stearman at the far post to reach Juan Mata’s free-kick and head
it in.

Three and easy: Mata (right) made it 3-0 before the 20-minute mark

Three and easy: Mata (right) made it 3-0 before the 20-minute mark

Four minutes later, Ryan Bertrand swept forward and curled in the
second. Mata made it 3-0, jinking inside from the right, trading passes
with Torres on the edge of the penalty box and finishing with a sweet
left-footer.

All this inside 17 minutes. Although Chelsea relaxed briefly and lost a
little focus, an astonishing fightback never seemed likely. Moses sped
clear seven minutes into the second half and was deemed by referee Neil
Swarbrick to have been fouled by Dorus De Vries.

Oscar was booked for a dive at Stamford Bridge against Stoke on Saturday
and this was a little suspicious, too. Moses certainly started to fall
before the goalkeeper took his legs but there was contact and a penalty
was awarded. Oriol Romeu converted it, his first goal for the club.

Spot on: Romeu scored a penalty shortly after the break

Spot on: Romeu scored a penalty shortly after the break

Torres headed in the fifth at the near post from a corner taken by Mata
and Moses scored the sixth, heading in a cross from Oscar.

Solbakken defended his selection. ‘This was the fourth game in nine
days,’ he said, but Wolves can expect a letter from the Football League
for breaching their rules on fielding weakened teams.

Six of the best: Moses centre scored his first goal for Chelsea

Six of the best: Moses centre scored his first goal for Chelsea

Cardiff 3 Wolves 1 match report:

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Cardiff 3 Wolves 1: Whittingham treble helps Bluebirds bounce back in style

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UPDATED:

15:19 GMT, 2 September 2012

Peter Whittingham scored a hat-trick to give Cardiff their first npower Championship victory since the opening day of the season.

Bakary Sako's free-kick put Wolves ahead after 10 minutes but Whittingham brought the Bluebirds level a minute later from the penalty spot.

He then scored his second shortly afterwards from the edge of the box to give the hosts the lead after 14 minutes, before completing his hat-trick in the 65th minute with a free-kick.

Make mine a treble: Peter Whittingham (left) led Cardiff to victory

Make mine a treble: Peter Whittingham (left) led Cardiff to victory

MATCH FACTS

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Taylor, Hudson, Connolly, Whittingham, Smith, Noone (Cowie 74), Mutch (Gunnarsson 59), Helguson, Maynard (Mason 68).

Subs not used: Lewis, Velikonja, Kim, Nugent.

Goals: Whittingham 11 (pen), 14, 65

Booked: Mutch

Wolves: Ikeme, Zubar (Stearman 73), Johnson, Berra, Ward, Edwards (Nouble 73), Peszko (Forde 83), Sako, Doumbia, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake.

Subs not used: De Vries, Elokobi, Batth, Davis.

Goal: Sako 10

Booked: Ebanks-Blake

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)

New signings Nicky Maynard and Craig Noone made their Cardiff debuts on an afternoon that indicated the Welsh club could be in for a successful season.

They replaced Don Cowie and Aron Gunnarsson in the starting XI as Malky Mackay's side lined up in a 4-4-2 formation. Another recent arrival Tommy Smith made his first home start.

Meanwhile, South Korean international Bo-Kyung Kim was on the bench for the first time following international clearance.
Wolves boss Stale Solbakken changed all 10 outfield players, with goalkeeper Carl Ikeme the only survivor from the Capital One Cup victory at Northampton on Thursday night.

Cardiff created the first chance as Noone's piledriver was palmed upwards by Ikeme after Wolves failed to clear a Whittingham corner.

Sako deceived Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall with a curling free-kick to put Wolves in front after Whittingham pushed over Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in the inside-right position.

But the hosts were immediately level. Ronald Zubar was off balance and left a leg dangling for Noone to fall over. It was a clear penalty and Whittingham calmly stroked his kick low down the middle as Ikeme dived to his right.

Whittingham then struck from 20 yards as Cardiff completed a quick turnaround after falling behind.

Only a fine fingertip save from Ikeme denied Whittingham his hat-trick early in the second half.

Wolves should have equalised when Zubar climbed highest to reach Stephen Ward's cross but he headed over the crossbar.

Whittingham made them pay, sending his free-kick into the top left-hand corner after Noone had been fouled by Tongo Doumbia on the edge of the box.

Heidar Helguson, Smith and substitute Cowie all threatened to extend Cardiff's advantage, but were unable to add a fourth.

It mattered little, though, as Wolves were thoroughly disappointing and created little else. Goalscorer Sako had an effort from just inside the area blocked by Matthew Connolly late in the game but that was as good as it got.