Stoke and Wolves failed to find a breakthrough in a close-fought Championship clash at the Britannia Stadium.

The two sides were both in play-off contention last season and look set to challenge for promotion again after winning two of their opening three league games.

And there was little to call between the teams as they cancelled each other out in an evenly-fought contest.

The first shot on target did not come until first-half stoppage time when Stoke's Liam Lawrence fired straight at Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

And although Wolves looked the more likely winners in the second half, the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock was a 61st-minute strike from Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller which rolled agonisingly wide.

Earlier in the match, Wolves winger Stephen Ward, one of six changes following the midweek Carling Cup defeat by Morecambe, cut in from the left and fired over from 25 yards in the 24th minute.

Stoke then went close to opening the score in the 33rd minute when Fuller's shot was deflected by Gary Breen, and with keeper Hennessey stranded, the ball looped narrowly over the Wolves crossbar.

Wolves threatened when Breen's long-range strike was deflected wide off Stoke defender Gabriel Zakuani, who returned from Fulham on Friday for a second loan spell with the Potters.

Moments later Fuller found space down the right and pulled the ball back for Lawrence, although the Stoke midfielder shot straight at Hennessey from a tough angle.

The second half was a more open affair with Wolves starting brightly.

Defender Neill Collins headed Michael Kightly's cross straight at Stoke goalkeeper Steve Simonsen in the 54th minute, although a minute later Wolves gave the ball away to Lawrence, who again shot too close to Hennessey.

Kightly was again to the fore when he cut in from the right and tested Simonsen with a 20-yard drive, but Stoke threatended when Fuller almost claimed the opener in the 61st minute.

The Jamaican forward latched onto a long ball out of defence but his left-footed effort from the edge of the box rolled narrowly wide.

Wolves then gained the ascendancy, with Ward's header testing Simonsen while strike pair Freddy Eastwood and Andy Keogh frequently got behind the Stoke defence, but they gained little reward.

With 13 minutes remaining, Stoke replaced Lawrence with striker Jon Parkin, who has come off the bench to score in the last two games.

Although the summer signing from Hull failed to repeat that feat, he put midfielder Rory Delap through on goal with two minutes remaining.

The former Republic of Ireland midfielder took the ball round Hennessey and stumbled as he tried to get a shot away, but the referee waved away Stoke's claims for a penalty.

Teams:

Stoke Simonsen, Zakuani, Shawcross, Hill, Dickinson,Lawrence (Parkin 79), Delap, Matteo, Cresswell,Sidibe (Eustace 86), Fuller.

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Wilkinson, Sweeney.

Booked: Lawrence.

Wolverhampton Hennessey, Foley, Breen, Darren Ward,Neill Collins, Kightly, Olofinjana, Henry, Stephen Ward,Eastwood (Elliott 85), Keogh.

Subs Not Used: Edwards, Stack, Bennett, Lee Collins.

Booked: Stephen Ward.

Att: 17,135

Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).