A stunning free-kick by Paul Simpson five minutes from time salvaged a draw for 10-man Wolves and kept Manchester City very much in the relegation quicksand.

Simpson curled home a brilliant shot to peg City back for the second time in an eventful clash at Molineux.

Joe Royle's side seemed to be on course for three vital points until Steve Froggatt was needlessly brought down in a cross-field run that left ex-City and Derby star Simpson to add to the pressure on them.

Wolves, whose FA Cup and play-off hopes had ended in the previous few days, appeared destined for another defeat when Kevin Horlock lashed City 2-1 in front in the 62nd minute after Steve Sedgley had been sent off for bringing down sub Uwe Rosler on a clear run to goal.

Wolves barely threatened again and City were much the more menacing side, right up until when Stephen Wright had to hack clear when Hans Segers struggled to deal with Jamie Pollock's free-kick in the dying moments.

Earlier, City had drawn first blood when Pollock raced past Wright and fired home an angled shot which cannoned off Segers and into the net.

But Wolves, who had already gone close through the inspirational Steve Bull - one of five players recalled - pushed City back in an encouraging first half performance. Robbie Slater also twice went close while Don Goodman brought a diving save from Martyn Margetson following a pass by Robbie Keane.

At the other end, Jim Whitley saw a fierce shot deflected just over before Margetson beat down a rising drive from Wright that was again set up by Bull.

Wolves' record scorer saw a 20-yarder deflected inches wide following a pass by Simon Osborn but the resulting 33rd minute corner by Osborn on the left was inexplicably spilled over his own line by Margetson after he had apparently made a safe catch.

Bull then directed a free diving header off-target from close range and scooped another shot over the bar in the second half while teeing up Simpson for an effort that was beaten aside by Margetson.

Wolves went into decline in the second half and City could come to rue the extra two points that slipped away when they seemed safe.

Teams

Wolverhampton: Segers, Wright, Froggatt, Simpson, Sedgley, Curle, Goodman, Slater, Bull, Keane (Emblen 63), Osborn.

Subs Not Used: Claridge, Freedman.

Sent Off: Sedgley (63).

Goals: Margetson 34 og, Simpson 85.

Man City: Margetson, Edghill, Horlock, Jobson, Weikens, Vaughan, Whitley, Pollock (Russell 86), Goater, Bishop (Brown 52), Bradbury (Rosler 52).

Booked: Horlock.

Goals: Pollock 13, Horlock 63.

Att: 24,458

Ref: M R Halsey (Welwyn Garden City)