Jarvis delivers for Wolves

WOLVES midfielder Matt Jarvis atoned for missing an open goal by scoring the winner in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over League One Tranmere at Prenton Park last night.

The FA Cup third round tie looked to be heading for a replay after Jarvis had side-footed wide from seven yards in the first half and Rovers’ Terry Gornell fired into the side-netting having gone round goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey after the interval.

However, 13 minutes from time Nenad Milijas threaded a brilliant ball between Tranmere’s two central defenders and Jarvis ran on to hit a first-time shot past Luke Daniels. The win ensured Wolves avoided an upset and reached the fourth round – where they will face Crystal Palace – for the eighth successive season. Sub-zero temperatures at kick-off meant the Prenton Park pitch was only going to become more treacherous as the night went on and it took until the 17th minute for either side to create anything resembling a chance.

Jarvis whipped in a left-wing corner which Jody Craddock tried to flick on but goalkeeper Daniels was able to palm away the danger.

Tranmere produced the best passing move of the match in the 31st minute when they broke quickly from an inswinging Jarvis free-kick. Centre-back Ian Goodison, charging down the left wing, and John Welsh exchanged several passes before the latter hit a shot with the outside of his right foot which Hennessey claimed above his head. It at least sparked the game into life as Gareth Edds drilled a long-range shot at the goalkeeper, whose poor throw led to Welsh’s left-foot half-volley from just inside the penalty area which was tipped around the post.

Wolves should have taken the lead in the 35th minute when Chris Iwelumo flicked a header across the Tranmere penalty area and, with the defence static, Jarvis raced in but side-footed well wide of an open goal from seven yards.

Nine minutes into the second half Wolves were denied only by the brilliance of goalkeeper Daniels.

Edds did well to block Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s close-range shot from Milijas’ corner as the pressure began to build on Tranmere. However, Gornell had a golden opportunity to put the Wirral side ahead in the 66th minute when he out-muscled Ward in the left-back spot.

The ball bounced towards goal but after sliding in and beating Hennessey with a solid challenge the striker picked himself to go past the goalkeeper only to shoot into the side-netting.

The game’s one piece of real attacking quality in the 77th minute produced the winner. Milijas threaded a brilliant ball between Tranmere’s two central defenders and Jarvis ran on to hit a first-time shot past Daniels.

Tranmere pushed for the equaliser and right-back Shaleum Logan got the better of Ward close to the touchline but his cut-back to Thomas-Moore was slightly under-hit.

TRANMERE: Daniels, Logan, Goodison, Taylor, Bakayogo, Edds, McLaren, Welsh (Ricketts 84), Thomas-Moore, Gornell (Shuker 84), Curran.

WOLVES: Hennessey, Foley, Stearman, Craddock, Ward, Milijas (Halford 89), Henry, Mancienne, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake (Elokobi 89), Iwelumo (Vokes 76).

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).