Impressive Wimbledon kept alive their flickering hopes of a play-off place with a victory at Molineux which was much more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests.

A 53rd-minute strike by Neal Ardley separated two mid-table teams but the Dons created and squandered plenty of other chances to make safe their ninth away league victory of the season.

Wolves had restored Molineux morale with successive derby wins over West Brom and Birmingham but they were devoid of inspiration in a performance that attracted a few boos at the final whistle.

It was the midlanders' second defeat in six matches that have also brought them four successes. But they were never in the same class as a Wimbledon side now unbeaten in 14 games.

Wolves were in trouble from the opening seconds when Joleon Lescott left a headed back-pass short of Michael Oakes and was thankful to see the keeper tip away a lob by the clean-through David Nielsen, with skipper Ludo Pollet completing the clearance.

Wolves did not learn from the let-off and Nielsen, Jason Euell and Trond Andersen all narrowly missed the target.

Pre-deadline signing Kevin Cooper was also a thorn in Wolves' right flank and sliced onto the roof of the net early on before bringing a comfortable diving save from Oakes.

The Londoners had drawn their previous seven away games and were rarely troubled at the other end although Andy Sinton cut inside to shoot wide of the near post and Pollet brought a diving save from Kelvin Davis following Michael Branch's corner.

Branch also sliced well wide but Wimbledon were right back in the ascendancy at the start of the second half.

Andersen broke superbly from midfield to bring a brilliant push-over from Oakes following a centre by Cooper, then came the long overdue breakthrough.

Cooper fed a short pass inside at the end of a move down the left and Ardley flashed a low left-foot shot in off the near post.

It was the winger's fourth goal of the season and it might well have been followed by a second from Andy Roberts, who was well denied by Oakes from another Cooper centre.

Wolves finally woke up in the final half hour or so, sparked by a tremendous 22-yard volley from Carl Robinson which was matched by an acrobatic tip-over by Davis.

Molineux man of the moment George Ndah, scorer of three goals in the previous two matches, then cashed in on a mistake from Kenny Cunningham from Oakes's long kick, only to lob narrowly wide.

Wolves introduced their £1.5million signing from Coventry, Cedric Roussel, in the 67th minute and he at least featured in putting Wimbledon under some pressure.

But all the home side had to show for their huffing and puffing was a 25-yard drive that flashed wide from the boot of Ndah.

Teams:

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Naylor, Connelly, Lescott, Pollet, Robinson, Andrews, Proudlock (Roussel 68), Sinton, Ndah,Branch (Ketsbaia 82).

Subs Not Used: Stowell, Emblen, Camara.

Wimbledon: Davis, Cunningham, Williams, Holloway, Hawkins, Roberts, Ardley, Andersen, Cooper (Kimble 90), Euell (Hughes 73), Nielsen (Gray 82).

Subs Not Used: Heald, Willmott.

Goals: Ardley 53.Att: 16,767

Ref: M Cowburn (Blackpool).