Dave Jones showed no sentiment towards his old club as Wolves swept Stockport
aside to maintain their lead at the top of the First Division.
The former County boss was given a great reception on his first appearance at
Edgeley Park since leaving for Southampton in the summer of 1997.
But his table-toppers were quick to put Carlton Palmer's youngsters to the
sword, and a brace from both Dean Sturridge and Mark Kennedy, including a
serious contender for goal of the season from the latter, ensured this
top-versus-bottom clash went to form.
Luke Beckett's opportunism had given the home side brief hope in a goal-laden
opening half, but it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Hatters
after Rob Clare's 15th-minute red card for upending Nathan Blake.
Wolves, fresh from their 4-1 win at Crewe in midweek, began full of confidence
and it came as no surprise when they went ahead in the 16th minute, albeit in
quite controversial circumstances.
Blake latched onto a Shaun Newton through ball and after a tangle with Clare
went sprawling on the edge of the penalty area. After consulting his linesman,
referee David Pugh elected to give the County centre-half a straight red card
and award a penalty, much to the fury of the home crowd. Sturridge then added
to County's misery when calmly slotting the spot-kick home low to Lee Jones'
right.
Things went from bad to worse for the Hatters in the 26th minute when Wolves
extended their lead through Kennedy. The former Manchester City man curled in a
low left-footed cross from the right flank which eluded everyone, including
Jones, and crept into the far corner of the net.
With the visitors in complete control it seemed a matter of just how many they
would score, but Beckett threw County a lifeline in the 33rd minute. The former
Chesterfield man charged down Michael Oakes' attempted clearance in the Wolves
goal before tapping in gleefully from five yards.
Wolves soon quelled any hopes of a County fightback, however, when restoring
their two-goal cushion in the 44th minute through Sturridge. Jones completely
missed Colin Cameron's right-footed corner to give the former Leicester man the
easiest of conversions from two yards.
The second half began with Wolves continuing to enjoy all the play, but Jones
seemed intent on atoning for his earlier errors by saving well from both Blake
and Kennedy.
Sturridge missed a glorious chance to grab his hat-trick and his side's fourth
in the 66th minute when steering the ball wide from barely five yards from a
Kennedy cross.
The visitors finally put the game beyond County in the 71st minute with a
glorious strike from Kennedy. Newton's cross-field ball fell invitingly to the
Republic of Ireland international and he lashed home a left-foot volley from 35
yards into the top corner of the net past a helpless Jones.
With the points safely in the bag, Wolves chose to give run-outs to
substitutes Keith Andrews, Kenny Miller and George Ndah as Jones readied all his
troops for harder battles ahead in the race to the Premiership.
Teams:
Stockport: Jones, Hardiker, Challinor, Palmer, Briggs, Fradin,
Lescott, Clare, Thomas (Carratt 22), Beckett, Wild.
Subs Not Used: Turner, Hancock, Ross, Williams.
Sent Off: Clare (15).
Booked: Briggs, Carratt, Lescott.
Goals: Beckett 33.
Wolverhampton: Oakes, Muscat, Lescott, Butler, Camara, Newton,
Rae, Cameron (Andrews 61), Kennedy, Sturridge (Miller 69),
Blake (Ndah 75).
Subs Not Used: Connelly, Murray.
Booked: Rae, Andrews.
Goals: Sturridge 16 pen, Kennedy 28, Sturridge 44, Kennedy 72.
Att: 8,481
Ref: D Pugh (Bebington).
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