Wolves moved back to within one point of the First Division leadership with
victory over 10-man Sheffield United at Molineux.
The Blades, who were unbeaten in their previous eight matches, were reduced to
10 men by the 24th-minute dismissal of Paul Devlin for a reckless challenge.
United's hopes went downhill as Devlin walked up the tunnel.
Wolves, who had won only one of their previous six games, took time to make
the extra man count although the outstanding Alex Rae had tested keeper Simon
Tracey from 25 yards.
Colin Cameron then toe-poked agonisingly wide after a fine run into the area
while Rae cut in from the left to power a low shot wide of the far post.
Wolves were well on top despite Devlin's well-saved early shot and they
thoroughly deserved the lead given to them in first-half stoppage time.
Dean Sturridge became their joint leading scorer on six after only nine
appearances when he seized possession, took a few strides forward and drove home
low and right-footed from almost 25 yards.
Blades substitute Peter Ndlovu twice brought comfortable saves from Michael
Oakes from outside the area before Nathan Blake headed narrowly wide from Mark
Kennedy's corner at the other end.
Shaun Newton was then denied by Tracey from an angle from a one-on-one chance
and Kennedy blazed wide of the far post from a similar opportunity.
Wolves should have been out of sight by the time substitute Cedric Roussel saw
a volley blocked by Tracey and cleared from near the line by Robert Page.
It was only Wolves' second win in seven matches and was a vital response to
their Boxing Day second-half collapse against Preston.
Teams
Wolverhampton: Oakes, Muscat, Butler, Pollet, Camara, Newton, Cameron, Rae, Kennedy, Blake (Roussel 83), Sturridge.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Andrews, Miller, Murray.
Booked: Camara.
Goals: Sturridge 45.
Sheff Utd: Tracey, Uhlenbeek, Page, Murphy, Nicholson, Ford, Santos, Tonge (Montgomery 77), Devlin, Suffo (Ndlovu 45), Asaba (D'Jaffo 77).
Subs Not Used: Curle, de Vogt.
Sent Off: Devlin (26).
Booked: Devlin.
Att: 24,138
Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).
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