Paul Ince is tightly marked.
By Andy Tilley, PA Sport
Click here for full match stats
Stoke's doughty performance earned the First Division strugglers a 0-0
stalemate with Wolves.
Clive Clarke was the Potters' hero after he cleared Mark Kennedy's late effort
off the line to ensure promotion-chasing Wolves' record of only one league win
at Molineux in seven outings was extended.
In an opening period of few scoring opportunities, the visitors gave Wolves
goalkeeper Matt Murray an early scare when Clarke fired a long-range free-kick
narrowly wide in the third minute.
The hosts' riposte arrived moments later though, only for a perfectly-timed
saving tackle from Wayne Thomas to dispossess Shaun Newton as the Molineux
midfielder shaped to shoot in the penalty box following a rebound off the chest
of Kenny Miller.
Next to chance his arm was the Potters' Mark Wilson, who let loose in the 21st
minute but Murray was comfortably able to gather the ball at the second
attempt.
Murray was also called upon to collect Clive Clarke's cheeky near-post
backheel.
Wolves' best chances of the first half both fell to Alex Rae but both were
squandered as.
Firstly, the unmarked Scotsman headed Mark Kennedy's right-wing corner wide,
then - with the interval looming - he was put clear in the penalty box only for
his right-foot shot to lack the accuracy necessary to test Mark Crossley in the
Stoke goal.
The Potters threatened early in the second half when a neat interchange
featuring Andy Cook and Clarke saw the latter burst through the Wolves rearguard
and into the penalty area although Murray was off his line quickly to smother
the danger.
An indication of the home team's growing frustration was provided in the 55th
minute when Kenny Miller went down inside the box and was booked for his
trouble, referee Jeff Winter ruling the Wolves striker had dived following an
innocuous collision with Wayne Thomas.
Dean Sturridge was replaced by Adam Proudlock just before the hour as Wolves
boss Dave Jones attempted to galvanise his misfiring side - but chances remained
scarce until left-back Lee Naylor produced a 25-yard effort Crossley struggled
to divert around the post.
Thomas collected the second yellow card of the evening after bringing down
Mark Kennedy on the left wing, the Wolves wide man curling his free-kick to the
back post where Joleon Lescott nodded the ball into the danger area - but Paul
Ince could only direct his spectacular overhead effort skywards.
Then, with seven minutes remaining, Kennedy fired low and hard into a crowded
penalty area and Williams, stationed on the far post, bundled the ball out of
harm's way.
Teams
Wolverhampton: Murray, Irwin, Lescott, Butler, Naylor,
Newton (Cooper 76), Ince, Rae (Cameron 76), Kennedy, Miller,
Sturridge (Proudlock 58).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Clyde.
Booked: Miller, Butler.
Stoke: Crossley, Thomas, Handyside, Shtanuk, Williams,
Marcus Hall, Gunnarsson, Brian Wilson, O'Connor, Clarke,
Cooke (Greenacre 83).
Subs Not Used: Banks, Gudjonsson, Hoekstra, Iwelumo.
Booked: Thomas.
Att: 25,235
Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).
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