Kenny Miller kept Wolves' play-off hopes alive with the penalty which defeated Ipswich at Molineux.

The Scotland international, who has signed a pre-contract agreement to join Celtic in the summer, scored in the 74th minute after on-loan Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere had been brought down in the area by Castro Sito.

And it was Wolves who had been first on the offensive as Miller saw a shot blocked by Fabian Wilnis with only 25 seconds on the clock and then Denes Rosa skied the rebound.

Ipswich were not long in mounting a response though as Ian Westlake delivered a low cross from the left and the lunging Dean McDonald was only inches away from making a telling contact inside the six-yard box.

Soon afterwards, a fierce Darren Anderton drive was comfortably saved by Shane Supple before the former England midfielder chanced his arm again on the quarter hour with his blocked shot then fired wide by Jody Craddock.

Miller was the next to try his luck - this time curling a rising effort well wide - before Stefan Postma was called into action at the other end as the Dutchman tipped away an effort from Scott Barron.

In the 37th minute, Wanderers were forced into a substitution as central defender Craddock was forced to limp out of the actio with Rob Edwards installed as his replacement.

Late on in the half Rosa cleverly crafted an opening only for his shot to be headed away by Jason de Vos.

Both sides emerged unchanged for the start of the second half but with just three minutes gone Barron was replaced by former Wanderers frontman Adam Proudlock with Westlake soon drifting unchaperoned behind a dozing Wolves defence only to drag his left-footed shot wide.

And the visitors' resurgence continued with Ipswich applying increasing pressure to the Wolves defence although Darren Currie could only curl an effort over Postma's crossbar just short of the hour.

Once Jamie Peters had replaced McDonald it was Proudlock who swivelled in the box to fire wide before Aliadiere was given a home debut by Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle.

With 65 minutes gone, Ipswich's corner ended with Matt Richards' shot being deflected wide for a second flag-kick which sparked more chaos in the Wolves penalty area before referee Andy Woolmer awarded a free-kick to the hosts.

But then, in the 73rd minute, Miller set Aliadiere free in the left channel and the Frenchman was brought down in the penalty area by Castro Sito.

Woolmer pointed straight to the spot and Miller sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from 12 yards as Wolves converted their first penalty of the season.

Teams:

Wolverhampton Postma, Ross, Lescott, Craddock (Edwards 38),Naylor, Davies, Rosa (Ricketts 89), Anderton, Miller, Cort,Frankowski (Aliadiere 60).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Ganea.

Booked: Ross, Davies, Naylor.

Goals: Miller 74 pen.

Ipswich Supple, Sito, Wilnis, De Vos, Barron (Proudlock 48),Currie, Garvan, Westlake, Richards, Naylor,McDonald (Peters 58), Peters (Magilton 75).

Subs Not Used: Brekke-Skard, Price.

Booked: Sito, Westlake, Magilton.

Att: 23,561

Ref: K Woolmer (Northamptonshire).