Goals in the last minute of each half gave Wolves a flattering victory over
relegation-threatened Portsmouth.
Don Goodman struck at the end of the first half and Simon Osborn just before
the final whistle, but Wolves - seven days before their FA Cup semi-final
against Arsenal - were largely unconvincing despite Mark McGhee's flurry of
pre-deadline buying.
There were flashes of inspiration from Robbie Slater and Steve Claridge but
Neil Emblen made a difficult return to the side he left in August and Pompey
could well have heaped more misery on the Midlanders, who have slid out of
promotion contention.
In a game devoid for long spells of goalmouth activity, Wolves scored two
goals in a match for the first time since their FA Cup fifth round replay win
over Wimbledon a month ago.
Adrian Williams appeared to be impeded as he went for an Osborn free-kick
right in front of goal then Slater was penalised as he challenged Aaron Flahavan
near the post and the ball dropped over the line.
Slater then advanced to blaze powerfully off target from 25 yards and, after
David Hillier had done the same at the other end, Wolves went close to taking
the lead nine minutes before the interval.
A deep cross by the recalled Steve Sedgley was headed superbly across the area
by Goodman but Slater's close-range shot under pressure whistled narrowly wide.
The breakthrough came, though, when Steve Froggatt's corner from the left was
met with a superb towering header from Goodman that bounced in near the foot of
the post.
Pompey, whose excellent revival was ended at Sunderland last weekend, rarely
threatened in attack although substitute John Durnin brought a diving save from
Hans Segers, who later reacted brilliantly to beat away a swerving 20-yarder
from Martin Allen.
John Aloisi also flashed an effort just wide from 20 yards before Wolves
produced a final flourish that saw them home.
After Steve Bull had gone on as substitute for Goodman, who was back after a
midweek trip to a specialist in Germany, chances at last came.
First, Bull helped on a long clearance which Claridge sliced wide as Flahavan
came out to narrow the angle.
Then Osborn - suspended for the semi-final - brilliantly chipped home from 20
yards after a one-two with Claridge for only his second goal of the season.
Teams
Wolverhampton: Segers, Wright, Froggatt, Sedgley (Simpson 83),
Williams, Curle, Slater (Keane 90), Emblen, Claridge,
Goodman (Bull 73), Osborn.
Goals: Goodman 44, Osborn 90.
Portsmouth: Flahavan, Pethick, Robinson, McLoughlin (Durnin 62),
Whitbread, Awford, Hall (Allen 69), Simpson (Svensson 69),
Aloisi, Hillier, Thomson.
Booked: Whitbread, Aloisi.
Att: 20,718
Ref: T Jones (Barrow-in-Furness).
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