Wolves land crucial victory

Wolves 1 West Brom 0

Substitute Jay Bothroyd’s strike handed Wolves a crucial 1-0 victory over local rivals West Brom, who Wanderers leapfrogged in the Coca-Cola Championship promotion race to go fourth.

The striker received Stephen Ward’s pass before spinning his marker and firing a low shot into Baggies keeper Dean Kiely’s bottom-right corner to give Mick McCarthy’s side their sixth straight win in front of a sell-out crowd.

It was no more than the home side deserved having dominated for large spells in a game which failed to sparkle until the second half.

The home side came into the game unbeaten in seven but it was the Baggies – the last side to beat Wanderers after their 3-0 January FA Cup win – who created the first real opening, with Zoltan Gera inches away from meeting Jason Koumas’ left-wing cross to the back post.

Wolves took 12 minutes to register a chance, with Baggies keeper Dean Kiely forced down to his right to stop Seyi Olifinjana’s drilled effort. Wolves’ young attack looked capable of unlocking the visitors’ defence and Andy Keogh should have done better after being played in by Michael McIndoe.

The young Irishman soon found himself grounded by a typically aggressive challenge from Albion’s Paul Robinson – who was cleared to play after winning a suspension appeal – but referee Andy D’Urso kept his cards in his pocket.

The game opened up in the second half and Diomansy Kamara seemed certain to score in the 50th minute after racing clear down the left. But the former Portsmouth striker was to find Matt Murray in inspired form, the keeper superbly smothering his shot before the ball was cleared.

But the home side, spurred by their vociferous support, came straight back at them, Keogh’s delightful curling effort creeping inside Kiely’s left post only for the goal to be chalked out for offside.

Kamara began to look like the player who has already netted 21 times this season with his trickery and movement causing the home rearguard plenty of problems.

Albion talisman Koumas, this week named the Championship’s player of the year, was kept quiet for long spells by Olifinjana, but forced Murray into action with a powerful shot midway through the second half.

Both managers made changes in the 67th minute in a bid to gain the upper hand. Mowbray swapped Richard Chaplow for Darren Carter with McCarthy exchanging the injured Gary Breen for Jody Craddock and Bothroyd replacing McIndoe.

And Bothroyd almost made an instant impact with his first touch – Kiely needing a strong hand to divert his fierce shot wide of the right post.

Kamara twice came close, again twisting and turning the home defence inside out as he cut in from the left, but it was Bothroyd who was to have the final say on matters with his strike eight minutes from time.

Kamara did his best to force an equaliser late on but again found Murray in top form as the home side held on.