Wolves stepped up their pursuit of a play-off place in convincing style as they made it six home wins in a row to add to Crewe's relegation fears.

Colin Lee's side were in command throughout and might well have had several more goals with which to decorate their third victory in 11 days.

Crewe had only one effort on goal all night and, in contrast to their conquerors, are left looking over their shoulders after suffering a second consecutive defeat.

Wolves went in front in the 14th minute when Steve Sedgley let fly with a low 25-yarder following a clever free-kick routine between Carl Robinson and Neil Emblen, the ball taking a crucial deflection off a defender to wrong-foot keeper Jason Kearton.

Crewe defender Dave Walton was fortunate to escape a dubious penalty area challenge on Michael Branch, who later provided a fine centre that Emblen headed against the angle of post and bar.

Emblen also drove powerfully wide on the run from long distance while Crewe's only shot of the night almost brought them an undeserved 34th minute equaliser, Michael Oakes reacting superbly to push away at the near post a shot by Colin Cramb after Mark Rivers had crossed from the left.

The pressure was even more sustained in the second half with Branch firing powerfully off target, Kearton pushing away a bouncing shot from Ludovic Pollet and the keeper dealing almost immediately with a low 20-yarder from Darren Bazeley.

But Wolves gained the breathing space they needed in the 68th minute when Robinson threaded a through-ball into the area and the impressive Scott Taylor drove a low angled shot just inside the far post.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi used all three subs but to no effect and Emblen saw a rising drive well pushed over by Kearton before Rivers kicked a Robinson header off the line.

Wolves were camped in the Crewe area towards the end and Kevin Muscat's 30-yard drive was pushed away by the keeper to prevent the scoreline taking on a more realistic look.

Teams:

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Bazeley, Pollet, Curle, Muscat, Robinson, Taylor (Andrews 89), Sedgley, Sinton, Branch, Emblen.

Subs Not Used: Simpson, Flo, Green, Petterson.

Goals: Sedgley 14, Taylor 68.

Crewe: Kearton, D. Wright, Walton (Unsworth 88), Macauley, S. Wright, Street, Sorvel, Rivers, Newby (Little 60),Cramb (Hulse 74), Tait.

Subs Not Used: Ince, Collins.

Booked: Tait.

Att: 20,444

Ref: D Crick (Worcester Park).