Vs Barnsley

[PureOldGold]

Wolves could again be without 15-goal top scorer Chris Iwelumo as the striker struggles to shrug off a twisted ankle suffered in training on Monday.

Mick McCarthy may keep the same side, with keeper Matt Murray and defender George Elokobi (both knee) still out.

Barnsley midfielder Anderson De Silva missed the midweek draw at Swansea with a gashed ankle and faces a late test.

Rob Kozluk (thigh) and Martin Devaney (ankle) are still out, while Diego Leon and Darren Moore are both doubtful.


Barnsley assistant manager Ryan Kidd told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Wolves have the ideal strike partnership in [Chris] Iwelumo and [Sylvan] Ebanks-Blake but they have good players all over the pitch.

"They'll be expecting to beat us but Mick McCarthy's a Barnsley lad and he'll know that on our day we can be a match for anybody."

[LondonWolf]

1-0 OG.

[LondonWolf]

2-0 by the man of the match

Super Kevin Foley.

[LondonWolf]

We are now safe from relegation... ;D

[PureOldGold]

Nervy Wolves extended their advantage at the top of the Championship with a victory over Barnsley at Molineux.

With Reading beating Norwich 2-0, it was vital that Wolves kept a gap between themselves and the chasing pack.

An own goal by right-back Bobby Hassell gave Mick McCarthy’s men the crucial three points, to stretch their lead over second place rivals Birmingham.

But it was a tense afternoon for McCarthy’s men, who struggled to create chances and were sloppy all over the pitch for long periods of the game, from the half hour point onwards.

The vital breakthrough came after Hassell appeared to chest the ball past his own keeper Heinz Muller to cap a flowing move involving Dave Edwards, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly.

The cross was a rare piece of quality, on a day when the Championship leaders struggled to get their fluid passing game going.

Wolves produced their best chances in the first half, when Andy Keogh glanced across goal and saw a sidefooted effort cleared off the line by Marciano Van Homoet in first-half injury time.

McCarthy’s men largely huffed and puffed their way through a laboured second half performance – although they did have their moments.

Only Muller’s legs denied substitute Sam Vokes from point-blank range after a superb run and cross by Michael Kightly, before the winger flashed a left foot chip narrowly over.

Prior to this, just after the hour, defender Richard Stearman just failed to apply the finishing touch at the far post from Kightly’s free kick, while Ward could only slice goalwards from a half chance.

In the end it took an angled finish from the highly impressive Kevin Foley to seal Wolves’ tenth home win in 12 this season.

The Irish full-back capped a memorable display with an angled drive that squirmed under Muller and over the line, after a one-two with Vokes.