Championship 2007-8   Aug 2007 Sept 2007 Oct 2007  Nov 2007 Dec 2007  Jan 2008 Feb 2008 Mar 2008 Apr 2008 May 2008 preseason07

The match against Scunthorpe has been postponed until 19th because of the 5th round draw against Cardiff CIty (away)
Next: the postponed Scunthorpe match - Tuesday night. Again deferred to March 18th because of frozen pitch

Saturday 23rd February Crystal Palace 0 Wolves 2 (Gray 76, Kyle 89)

a cracking shot by Michael Gray which curled wonderfully past Palace keeper Speroni and a briliant “turn and shoot” striker’s goal by sub Kevin Kyle took the points at Selhurst Park in a game which we dominated, defended well, but rarely threatened.  The game was marred by a vicious leap into Wayne Hennessey, already in possession of the ball, by Palace’s Matthew Lawrence.  It deserved a very orane coloured shade or yellow at least. Ref supremo Hackett should look at why the inept ref Woolmer took no action but could be  influenced by Palace players to book excellent debutant  George Elokobi for a less robust challenge on Speroni.   George had a very impressive start and one attack down the left wing in particular showed some real skills.  The old centre back pairing of Breen and Craddock were on top of Kuqi, and later Clinton Morrison and the midfield held their own - even Elliott having a really good game.  Sylvan E-B worked really hard up front as a lone target and Neill Collins had a great game at right back - it was his pass from the back which Kevin Kyle chested down, turned and fired home, but  the match will be remembered for Michael’s super curler. 

(As well as a “Best pie” award for the somewhat pricey but great tasting pies.

Wolves reported: http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10307~38699,00.html

Crystal Palace 0  Wolves 2 (Gray 76, Kyle 89)

Two excellent strikes in the final 15 minutes gave Wolves victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and helped banish the FA Cup blues from the previous weekend.  Mick McCarthy made wholesale change to the team that had lost to Cardiff. Seyi Olofinjana and the two Kevins, Foley and Kyle, were relegated to the bench whilst there was no place for Jay Bothroyd or Andy Keogh.  Into the side came Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, David Edwards and George Elokobi - all cup tied at Ninian Park, along with Stephen Elliott and the fit again Neill Collins as the manager opted for a 4-5-1 formation. 

The first chance of the game fell to Tom Soares who headed narrowly wide after connecting with Lee Hills' long throw in.  Elliott posed Wolves' first threat with a snapshot from 25-yards that was touched over the bar by Palace keeper Julian Speroni.  From the corner conceded, taken by Darren Potter, Jody Craddock headed just wide of the far post.  Wayne Hennessey dived to collect an angled drive from Shefki Kuqi before a "Michael Gray free-kick was cleared after Clint Hill had fouled Elliott to the right of the home area.  Craddock blocked and then cleared a shot from Ben Watson before Hennessey had to punch behind a Watson corner for a second that was cleared upfield to Elokobi who outstripped his marker before delivering a cross that was headed behind for an unproductive Wolves flag-kick.  On 42 minutes Kuqi went into the book for tripping Gray who took the resultant free-kick. Ebanks-Blake barged into Speroni as he collected the ball and he too went into the book.  Shortly before the break Hennessey saved a low shot from Shaun Derry.

Half-Time; Palace 0 Wolves 0

Inside the first minute of the new half Ebanks-Blake volleyed over after Edwards had laid a Gray centre into his path. Craddock threw himself into the path of a Watson shot and Carl Fletcher followed up with a drive that flashed wide of Hennessey's right-hand post.  Just before the hour mark, Neil Warnock made two changes to his side with Clinton Morrison and Paul Ifill replacing Hills and Soares respectively. As in the opening 45 minutes, chances at either end were few and far between with the only incidents of note coming when Fletcher was booked for pulling back Potter before Kuqi made a gesture towards the crowd as he was replaced by James Scowcroft in the 70th minute.  Then, out of the blue, Wanderers took the lead thanks to a tremendous strike from Gray - his first goal for the club.  Potter broke from the halfway line and tried a long-range shot that cannoned off Matt Lawrence into the path of Gray. With everyone expecting a cross from the right hand corner of the box, he hit an unstoppable effort into the far corner of the net.  With ten minutes remaining Kyle was sent on in place of Ebanks-Blake shortly before Hennessey beat Morrison to Ifill's short cross.  Hennessey was clattered by Matt Lawrence as the pair vied for Watson's corner. The keeper was clearly dazed and had to leave the field to be replaced by Graham Stack with two minutes of the 90 remaining. At the same time Foley came on for Ebanks-Blake.  Seconds later Kyle made sure the points were Molineux bound when he collected a long clearance from Collins and beat Speroni with a 25-yard half-volley that flew into the net.  In stoppage time Potter almost made it three with a shot that clipped the top of the bar after he had taken a return pass from Foley.  Just before the end of the six
additional minutes, Stack made an athletic save to turn away a drive from Ifill.

Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hill, Hudson (capt), Fletcher, Watson, Soares (Ifill 58), Butterfield, Derry, Kuqi (Scowcroft 68), Hills (Morrison 58). Unused subs: Fonte, Scannell.  Bookings: Kuqi (40 - foul), Fletcher (68 - foul).

Wolves: Hennessey (Stack 88), Collins, Elokobi, Henry, Craddock, Breen (capt), Potter, D. Edwards, Ebanks-Blake (Foley 88), Elliott (Kyle 81), Gray. Unused subs: Olofinjana, Eastwood. Booking: Ebanks-Blake (41 - foul).

Referee: K. Woolmer.  Attendance: 15,679 (1,300 away supporters).

Saturday 16th February FA Cup 5th Round  Cardiff City 2 (Whittingham 2, Hasselbaink 10) Wolves 0

Mick said post match “It’s been an awful day.  Hopeless is the word I’d use.  We were as bad as we’ve ever been”

In truth, after 2 minutes the match was as good as over when Andy lost the ball in their half, Jimmy sold a dummy, and Peter Whittingham raced away to score after one minute 30 seconds.   Eight minutes later Jay did the same and this time it was JFH himself who socred.   The half time stats showed one off target shot in the first half, Cardiff dominated possession and that continued into the second half.  Only Wayne Hennessey’s saves stopped it being  a rout and Freddy was the only other player with anything about him  After the match the players were told to listen to the crowd who were giving them a piece of their mind

Mick brought Craddock and Breen back as well as Gray in defence while Seyi GEorge returned to action after his Africa Cup of Nations interlude.   Keogh and Kyle started up front with Jay Bothroyd.
Early on Andy Keogh lost possession down the right hand side and within 1 minute 30 secs Peter Whittingham scored after a dummy by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.  JFH himself scored after Jay lost the ball in the Cardiff half and started another breakaway.   End of game.

1H
Goal Attempts 6  :  1  On Target 4  :  - ;Crosses -  :  - ;  Corners 1  :  - ;  Offside -  :  - ;  Fouls 3  :  9 Fouls; Free kicks 9  :  3 Free kicks;  Yellow cards 1  :  -
% Possession 55  :  45 Possession %

Wolves World’s roving reporters said here - http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10307~43349,00.html

 Cardiff City 2 (Whittingham 2, Hasselbaink 10)  Wolves 0

Wolves FA Cup challenge ended at Ninian Park after two early goals had put Cardiff firmly in command. The Molineux team rarely looked like they were going to force their way back into what was, for them, a hugely disappointing game.

There were five changes to the Wanderers starting line-up with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, David Edwards and George Elokobi all cup tied, Matt Jarvis injured, and Darren Ward also missing out.  In came Jay Bothroyd, Seyi Olofinjana, Darren Potter, Michael Gray and Jody Craddock.

Wolves kicked-off attacking the end of Ninian Park that housed around 1,200 of their supporters. But it was the home fans that were celebrating with just 84 seconds gone. Glenn Loovens cleared the ball to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who, despite Craddock's challenge, managed to release Peter Whittingham who ran unopposed from just inside his own half before shooting past Wayne Hennessey.  Worse was to follow as the Bluebirds made it two in the tenth minute when Paul Parry's low cross ran through to Hasselbaink who delivered a precision shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the box.  Loovens' last ditch tackle robbed Potter of a shooting chance before City went close again through Parry whose dipping 20-yard shot just cleared the bar.  Kevin Kyle headed over following a Gray free-kick but Hennessey was in action again seconds later when he parried a shot from Whittingham and then smothered the loose ball as Aaron Ramsey followed up.  Stephen McPhail went into the book for kicking the ball away after conceding a free-kick before a long range effort from Hasselbaink flashed wide of the far post.  Five minutes before the break Freddy Eastwood was sent on in place of Olofinjana and within seconds of his introduction the striker took a return pass from Andy Keogh before hitting a low cross shot that was well taken by Peter Enckelman.  Hennessey needed two attempts before gathering another effort from Hasselbaink and then, in stoppage time, the visitors won their first corner of the game but Potter's flag-kick was cleared.

Half-Time: Cardiff 2 Wolves 0

There was a chance for Wolves to reduce the arrears a minute after the resumption when Loovens' slip let in Kyle who took the ball to the by-line before hitting a short, low cross that was scrambled clear by a defender.  But the focus of play soon reverted to the other end with Hennessey making three saves in a five minute spell. The international dived low to cut out a low drive from Ramsey, and then he twice denied Parry who was, on both occasions, clean through on goal.  Craddock was booked for a challenge on Parry before Mick McCarthy had made a double switch replacing Kevin Foley and Kyle with Darron Gibson and Stephen Elliott.  Shortly after he took to the field, Gibson was shown the yellow card for a foul on Parry three-yards outside the Wolves box.  Hasselbainks' free-kick hit a defender and bounced behind for a corner.  Elliott ran in from the right and unleashed a shot that Enckelman knocked down before claiming, and then Hennessey showed smart reactions as he got down to save from Whittingham.  Eastwood turned and fired wide after he had taken a pass from Potter before Cardiff substitute Steve Thompson was cautioned after he had caught Craddock.  Shortly before the end, Eastwood headed wide after Gray had planted a deep cross into the area.

Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Capaldi, Rae, Loovens, Whittingham (Sinclair 90), McPhail (capt) (Blake 90), Parry, Johnson, Ramsey,  Hasselbaink (Thompson 78).  Unused subs: Oakes, Purse, Sinclair, Blake. Bookings: McPhail (32 - unsporting behaviour), Thompson (84 - foul).

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley (Gibson 63), Gray, Potter, Craddock, Breen, Kyle (Elliott 63), Henry (capt), Keogh, Olofinjana (Eastwood 40),  Bothroyd.  Unused subs: R. Edwards, Stack.  Bookings: Craddock (58 - foul), Gibson (66 - foul).

Referee: R. Styles.  Attendance: 15,349.

Tuesday February 12th Blackpool   0 Wolves 0   att 9413

1683 travelling Wolves fans saw Club captain Gary Breen return but Karl was left with the captain’s armband, while George Elokobi made his debut - and Seyi returned to the bench from the African Cup of Nations. Rob Edwards dropped to the bench while Michael Gray was left out.   The first half was fairly tepid but good chances went to old foe Paul Dickov and Andy Keogh.  First half stats

          Blackpool   WW
Goal Attempts 4  :  6 
On Target       1  :  4 
Crosses          8  :  5 
Corners           -  :  - 
Offside            1  :  1  
Fouls               5  :  6 
Free kicks        7  :  6   
Yellow cards    -  :  -   
Red cards        -  :  - 
% Possession 50:50

The second half livened up, with fisticuffs with Dickov, Ward and Taylor-Fletcher involved, but only T-F was cautionned in the 69th.  Several golden chances - especially one for Andy Keogh who blazed over, EbanksBlake hit the post and Kyle had a chance Stats:

         Blackpool   WW
Goal Attempts 7  :  12 
On Target        3  :  7  
Crosses         19  :  19 
Corners           2  :  5 
Offside            2  :  2 
Fouls            10  :  14 
Free kicks     17  :  12 
Yellow cards   2  :  2 
Red cards        -  :  - 
% Possession 49 : 51

for pictures of the match go to http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/02/13/blackpool-v-wolves-in-pictures/5/ (this is a great save by Wayne)  For full match report go to the Wolves match report on http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10307~38603,00.html as shown

Blackpool 0 Wolves 0            

After a disappointing opening hour of the game, Blackpool and Wolves slugged it out in search of a winner at Bloomfield Road but there was to be no breakthrough for either side.   Wolves had two changes to their starting line-up with George Elokobi making his debut at left-back in place of Michael Gray and Gary Breen returning after a lengthy injury absence taking Rob Edwards' place in central defence.  Breen was soon involved calmly taking the ball off Wes Hoolahan as he made a threatening run into the Wolves area. Then Darren Ward had to turn away a low centre from Shaun Barker.  In the eighth minute Blackpool almost grabbed the lead after Paul Dickov hadfired in a cross that Gary Taylor-Fletcher just failed to get a foot to as the ball flashed across the face of Wayne Hennessey's goal.  Both Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Kevin Kyle got their heads to a Matt Jarvis cross before the home defence managed to scramble the ball clear, then Kevin Foley had to leave the field for treatment and a clean shirt after cutting his head in a challenge.  Jarvis took a pass from David Edwards and advanced on the home goal before shooting wide from 22-yards but, as the interval approached, neither keeper had been seriously troubled. Andy Keogh's shot was blocked after he had been set up by a combination of Jarvis and Ebanks-Blake, and then Keogh's header was comfortably taken by home keeper Paul Rachubka after a Jarvis cross. In the final minute of the half, Dickov flashed a drive narrowly wide and Keogh fired high over the bar after Foley had hit a low cross from the right.

Half-Time: Blackpool 0 Wolves 0

Hennessey claimed a Ben Burgess header in the first minute of the new half after Taylor-Fletcher had supplied the cross and when the ball broke upfield Ebanks-Blake looked to be in with a chance until he lost out in a challenge with Stephen Crainey.  The game had still been devoid of clear cut chances before it suddenly burst into life just after the hour mark.  Rachubka did well to take Kyle's header under pressure from Edwards after a deep centre from Foley. The home rearguard struggled to clear their lines and when Jarvis returned the ball into the box, Kyle powered a header that drew the first real save of the game from the American keeper.  Keogh went into the book after tripping Hoolahan before both sides struck the woodwork in a two minute spell.  Hennessey made a terrific save to tip Taylor-Fletcher's 20-yard drive onto the post with the ball looking destined for the top corner.  Then Ebanks-Blake raced onto Karl Henry's headed clearance and advanced into the Blackpool box. Despite being forced wide by Ian Evatt the striker hooked a fierce shot against the upright.  Taylor-Fletcher was yellow carded after a brief altercation with Ward and, after Ebanks-Blake's shot was blocked in a crowded area following a Jarvis corner, Michael Jackson was also cautioned after he had fouled Kyle.  Home substitute Stephen McPhee drove narrowly wide from the edge of the box after Burgess had headed a long clearance on to him, and Kyle was inches away from the far post as he got his head to Jarvis's corner.  Seven minutes from the end, Ebanks-Blake held the ball up well for Keogh who ran into the area before lifting his shot over the bar. The Wolves' players protested to no avail that his effort had been handled by a defender.  In stoppage time Ward went into the book for fouling McPhee on the by-line to the left of the Wanderers goal. Hoolahan fired over the free-kick but Ward was on hand to head clear.

Blackpool: Rachubka, Crainey, Southern (Green 87), Jackson (capt), Evatt, Hoolahan, Taylor-Fletcher, Jorgensen, Barker, Burgess, Dickov (McPhee 73).  Unused subs: Coid, Morrell, Gerrard. Bookings: Taylor-Fletcher (69 - unsporting behaviour), Jackson (75 - foul).

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Elokobi, D. Edwards, D. Ward, Breen, Kyle, Henry (capt), Keogh (Olofinjana 85), Ebanks-Blake (Eastwood 90), Jarvis.  Unused subs: R. Edwards, Elliott, Stack.  Bookings: Keogh (63 - foul), D. Ward (90 - foul).

Referee: L. Mason. Attendance: 9,413 (1,683 away supporters).

Wolves 2 (Edwards 45, Keogh 47)  Stoke City 4 (Delap 4, Lawrence 49, Cort 74, Fuller 90)

Oh Dear.  Rob Edwards was the hero and the villain - his stupid back pass from the touchline  led to the opener from Delap -  but  he restored equity just on halftime - really playing the marauding centre half.  But the type of refereeing which has Mick spitting feathers didn’t give him a deserved penalty for an equaliser leaving Stoke broke away to seal the tie.  Gray had a good match but left Ward totally isolated for Stoke’s 2-2 equaliser and a missed tackle let Fuller away for the third while the usually reliable Matt Jarvis’s back pass led to the opener from Delap.  Overall Wolves played well, but Kyle missed a sitter and the strikers are still jinxed in front of goal although  Andy’s start to the second half had given us hope but the equaliser was caused by not consolidating and forgetting about defence.  Mick was not best pleased, nor were those who walked out early.

A controversial refereeing decision in stoppage time robbed Wolves of the chance of a penalty equaliser after an open game against Stoke City at Molineux.  And, to rub salt in the wounds, the Potters immediately charged to the other end and scored through Ricardo Fuller to confirm Wolves' sixth home League defeat of the campaign.

Kevin Kyle came in for Stephen Elliott to make his full debut. It was the only change to the team that had lost at Watford seven days earlier. City kicked off attacking the North Bank end and they moved into a fourth minute lead when Mamady Sidibe intercepted Rob Edwards' short back-pass. After sidestepping Wayne Hennessey he crossed for Rory Delap to head into the unguarded net.  Gabbi Zakuani clattered into Matt Jarvis near the left-hand corner of the Stoke box. Jarvis's free-kick fell to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who nudged the ball forward to Karl Henry but his shot from near the penalty spot was blocked by a defender.  Stoke almost had a second in the 14th minute when Leon Cort's diving header from Liam Lawrence's corner just cleared Hennessey's crossbar.  David Edwards was a fraction wide with a low shot after Ebanks-Blake had touched back a Jarvis centre before Ebanks-Blake held his head in his hands after missing a golden chance of levelling matters with the half midway through.  Andy Keogh's short measured cross fell to the former Plymouth striker who chested the ball down but then blazed his shot over the bar from eight-yards out. In the 26th minute a great run by David Edwards took him into the heart of the Stoke box. His shot at goal had the sting taken out of it by City keeper Steve Simonsen but the ball ran to Kyle who looked a certain scorer only for the chance to be lost when the ball got trapped under his feet.  There was a further indication that this wasn't going to be Ebanks-Blake's day when he missed his kick from close quarters after Kyle had headed down a Gray cross. Hennessey saved a low drive from Danny Pugh before Wolves drew level in stoppage time after David Edwards' 30-yard shot had been deflected for a corner. Keogh played a short ball to Jarvis and then took a return pass before crossing to Kyle whose header fell for Rob Edwards to stab the ball home for his first senior goal for the club.

Half-Time: Wolves 1 Stoke 1

Just two minutes after the restart Wolves took the lead. Kevin Foley's free-kick from just inside the Stoke half was headed on by Kyle and Keogh ran in to drill home a low shot.  But the lead was to be short-lived with Lawrence firing Stoke level just two minutes later when he took a pass from Glenn Whelan and broke on the right before hammering the ball beyond the dive of Hennessey.  From a Jarvis corner, Kyle's powerful header flew into the arms of Simonsen, and then Pugh appeared to handle Keogh's attempted chip in the box but the referee waved away penalty appeals.  Simonsen had a lucky escape when he dropped Foley's lob, but a defender was on hand to clear as Rob Edwards charged in.  Kyle headed wide of the far post after a centre from Michael Gray, but it was Stoke who struck again with 72 minutes gone. Lawrence's corner was headed towards goal by Sidibe and Hennessey pulled off a tremendous reflex save tipping the ball onto the bar.  But, unfortunately for the Welsh keeper and Wolves, the ball dropped down at the feet of Cort who netted from virtually on the line. Substitute Fuller almost grabbed a fourth when City broke from a Wolves corner. The ball was swept upfield to Fuller but he fired wide with only Hennessey to beat.  Simonsen pushed a Gray centre onto the face of the crossbar before the game was settled in stoppage time. Wolves piled everyone forward for a Gray corner and when Rob Edwards went down under a challenge from Salif Diao, all eyes were on the referee.  But he again rejected the appeals and Stoke went straight to the other end to wrap things up through Fuller who beat Hennessey with an angled shot into the corner.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray, D. Edwards (Elliott 90), D. Ward, R. Edwards, Kyle, Henry (capt), Keogh (Eastwood 81), Ebanks-Blake, Jarvis. Unused subs: Potter, Stack, Elokobi. Bookings: R. Edwards (89 - foul), Ebanks-Blake (90 - dissent).

Stoke: Simonsen, Cort, Whelan, Lawrence (Dickinson 90), Sidibe, Pugh, Shawcross, Diao (capt), Gallagher (Fuller 64), Zakuani, Delap.  Unused subs: Pericard, Buxton, Hoult. Booking: Whelan (61 - foul).

Referee: A. Marriner.  Attendance: 25,373.

Saturday February 2nd 2008 Watford 3  (Kabba 1, Smith 76,78) Wolves 0

Wolves again played in away white but a long throw from Bromby soon erased Watford’s FA Cup memories - within a minute Kabba had struck after Darren Ward incredibly let the long throw from the left bounce, and bounce over him for an easy header for Kabba to score his first for two years.  So we were on the back foot, but had the lion’s share of the first half play and several half chances.  In fact, with their very few touches, Watford came closer - Kabba missing an identical chance on 6 minutes and  pulling a good save by Wayne from McAnauff.  Aidy Boothroyd had clearly learnt from last week and every time Matt Jarvis got the ball he was relentlessly closed down by 2 or 3 players.   There didn’t seem to be any need to panic and we were confident we could at least draw.  In the 63rd minute though the ineffectual Stephen Elliott - still tackling back well but totally unable to control the ball going forward- was replaced by debutant Kevin Kyle.  Wolves then resorted to a long ball up and under game which was easily dealt with by the strong Watford defence  - until a pinball 75th minute allowed Rob Edwards to get the last touch for a goal credited to Smith. 
A minute later and a flick on put Smith away with the Wolves center back struggling and Smith scored through Wayne’s legs after a 30 yard run.  Our few corners seemed to have twice as many Watford shirts in the box - who all wanted to win the ball.  And, in spite of his size we stopped putting corsses into Kyle - relying on the long ball - as the Wolves performance deteriorated in the last quarter of an hour.
Here’s how WoW reported it Watford 3 (Kabba 1, Smith 76,78)  Wolves 0

There was to be no happy return to Watford for Wolves who fell to a 3-0 defeat just a week after enjoying a 4-1 FA Cup triumph at Vicarage Road.   Rob Edwards was the only change to the starting line-up from the midweek game against Sheffield Wednesday. He retained his place after coming on as a substitute for the Neill Collins who was injured early on in the contest against the Owls.
Wolves made a disastrous start falling behind with less than a minute gone. Leigh Bromby, making his debut for the Hornets, launched a long throw into the Wolves area and it ran through to Steve Kabba who scored with a far post header.  It could have been two just a few moments later when another Kabba header flashed wide after Bromby had supplied the cross.  In the eighth minute Bromby's foul on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake resulted in a Matt Jarvis free-kick that was headed clear and then Darren Ward nodded wide following Michael Gray's corner.  Jarvis used his speed to beat his man and race to the by-line but his cross was cut out by Adrian Mariappa for what was to be a fruitless corner.  Karl Henry was too high with a 20-yard drive after Jarvis had played the ball back to him and then a Gray cross was headed on by David Edwards but Mariappa cleared for a corner. Again Jarvis took the kick but again it was cleared.  Wayne Hennessey cut out a low driven cross from Jobi McAnuff before a dangerous curling centre from Jarvis just eluded the inrushing Keogh and Stephen Elliott.  Wolves were seeing plenty of the ball but Watford had two good chances inside a minute with John Joe O'Toole firing narrowly wide after a free-kick had only been half cleared, then Hennessey saved with his legs from McAnuff.  As the interval approached, Ebanks-Blake's shot on the turn was blocked at close quarters before Richard Lee dived full length to save from Jarvis

Half-Time: Watford 1 Wolves 0

Lee was in action seconds after the restart when he made a fine save from Ebanks-Blake who had unleashed a powerful shot from 30-yards.  Jarvis then played in Ebanks-Blake whose shot was deflected wide for a corner. Jarvis' kick fell to Elliott but his drive from just outside the box went over the bar.  John Eustace fired into the side netting from a tight angle as Watford threatened, and Rob Edwards came to the rescue when he cleared a McAnuff shot off the line after a Bromby throw had caused problems once again.  Nathan Ellington was crowded out as he chased down a centre from O'Toole and the Kevin Kyle made his debut for Wanderers when he came on for Elliott in the 63rd minute.  Two Tommy Smith goals in a two minute spell put the game out of Wolves reach.  The first, in the 76th minute, came when Mat Sadler's corner fell to Ellington and his shot was turned in by Smith.  Worse was to follow with Darius Henderson heading a defensive clearance into the path of Smith who advanced to the edge of the box before beating Hennessey.  Just before the end Lionel Ainsworth was a close to a fourth for the home team on what proved to be a bitterly disappointing night for Mick McCarthy's team.

Watford: Lee (capt), Doyley, Bromby, Mariappa, Sadler, Eustace, Smith, O'Toole, McAnuff (Ainsworth 81), Kabba (Henderson 69), Ellington (Bangura 83).  Unused subs: Stewart, Williamson.
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray, D. Edwards, D. Ward, R. Edwards, Elliott (Kyle 63), Henry (capt), Keogh (Bothroyd 77), Ebanks-Blake, Jarvis.  Unused subs: Stack, Breen, Potter.
Referee: L. Probert.  Attendance: 18,082.

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