Hunt on right track to avoid dreaded drop

STEPHEN HUNT has endured the misery of Premier League relegation twice in the last three seasons, however his midlands derby winner eased the likelihood of him having to suffer a similar experience at the third time of asking this season.

The 29-year-old Portlaoise native was a member of the Reading and Hull sides condemned to the drop in 2008 and May this year.

However, his emphatic strike on the stroke of half-time at Molineux could prove to be a turning point in what so far has been a season of ifs and buts for Mick McCarthy and his team.

Having often failed to pick up what they deserved from matches, this was only a second win in seven league games for Wolves.

And, although they remain stranded in 19th position, they are now just a point adrift of the safety mark.

Significantly, this victory pulled them within three points of yesterday’s opponents — conversely, a win for Alex McLeish’s team would have propelled them nine points clear of their local rivals. A classic case of the six pointer.

Wolves were excellent here, as good as they have played all season, and were full value for their triumph.

And the fact they achieved this vital victory without star names including Kevin Doyle, Matt Jarvis, Michael Mancienne and Karl Henry made it all the more impressive.

Birmingham, on the other hand, were unusually subdued and failed to test Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey once in the entire 90 minutes, while Blues goalkeeper Ben Foster was forced into a succession of superb saves.

The England stopper was quickly called into action early on when he plucked man-of-the-match Dave Edwards’ well-placed header away from the far corner and then denied Hunt after the Wolves man had turned Stephen Carr.

Birmingham had Foster to thank yet again when he was right behind a well-struck Sylvan Ebanks-Blake effort.

A half-time stalemate appeared on the cards, but Hunt, who can make a nuisance of himself like few players in this league, had other ideas.

Hennessey’s long ball upfield was flicked on by Edwards into the path of Ebanks-Blake, situated wide on the right.

The striker shrugged off Dann before curling in an inviting low cross to the near post which Hunt rifled home from inside the six-yard box.

Bullseye — and no less than Wolves deserved.

It was his second goal in three games and further evidence of exactly why McCarthy parted with £3m for his services.

Little changed in the second half. Wolves were still the better team and should have doubled their advantage in the 47th minute when the unmarked Edwards somehow headed Ward’s pinpoint cross beyond the far post.

It took another stunning save from Foster to tip a Nenad Milijas header over his crossbar and another golden opportunity was spurned when Christophe Berra’s heroic attempt to reach Milijas’ looping cross ended in him clattering into the post. Insult to add to injury.

As even Alex Ferguson would testify, too many times this season Wolves have not departed with what they deserved and with the score still at 1-0 there was always a danger that history could repeat itself.

With nerves beginning to set in as the finish line neared, Birmingham finally enjoyed a spell of dominance.

And they were left ruing a rush of blood from substitute Jean Beausejour when he sprinted clear down the left channel only to overhit his cross to the onrushing Cameron Jerome, who was in acres of space.

That, however, was nothing compared to the miss which was to follow seconds later.

Another substitute, Kevin Phillips, did superbly to buy himself some space inside the box but when Craig Gardner’s crafted cross eventually arrived the unmarked striker’s predatory instincts deserted him and he headed well wide of the goal from close range with just Hennessey to beat.

That is one local relegation rival out of the way for McCarthy, Hunt and co. and next up is another in the shape of West Brom on Sunday.