A brilliant brace from deadly Dean Sturridge stretched Wolves' lead at the top of the Division One table to eight points.

The bargain former Leicester City star's double took his goal tally to 17 goals in 18 league games for David Jones' promotion chasers.

Nathan Blake was the home side's other scorer as they took their goal tally to 14 from their last four outings.

It was another miserable evening for Walsall, who were reduced to 10 men by the 48th-minute red card for defender David Holdsworth - his second in four games for the club.

The on-loan Birmingham City star was sent for an early bath by Wirrall referee Mike Dean in the 48th minute for elbowing defender Joleon Lescott as they both challenged for a free kick from Mark Kennedy.

Walsall, reduced to 10 men, were cut open just five minutes later when the dangerous Sturridge got his name on the scoresheet for the first time.

The striker seized on to a pass from Kevin Muscat before lobbing the ball over the head of helpless keeper Jimmy Walker and into the far corner of the Saddlers net.

Then in the 74th minute it was 2-0 when Sturridge was on the mark again after a determined run through the middle by Blake.

He slipped a perfect pass to Sturridge, who lashed a hard angled drive past Walker and into the far corner.

Then in the 76th minute Blake completed the scoreline with a cracking shot from 20 yards after robbing defender Ian Roper in the middle.

It was Wolves who held the edge in the opening 45 minutes, with Sturridge being denied by Walker in the 22nd minute and, moments later, the keeper rejoined the action to tip away a goal-bound drive from Colin Cameron.

The defeat made it an unhappy return to Molineux for former Wolves boss Colin Lee and it left his struggling Saddlers firmly rooted to the relegation zone.

Teams

Wolverhampton Oakes, Muscat, Lescott, Butler, Camara, Newton (Miller 58), Rae (Andrews 79), Cameron, Kennedy, Sturridge, Blake.

Subs Not Used: Ndah, Pollet, Murray.

Goals: Sturridge 54, 76, Blake 77.

Walsall Walker, Shields, Roper, Holdsworth, Aranalde, Wrack, O'Connor (Bennett 83), Simpson (Byfield 73), Corica, Marcelo, Leitao (Barras 52).

Subs Not Used: Harper, Biancalani.

Sent Off: Holdsworth (50).

Booked: Corica, Roper.

Att: 27,043

Ref: M Dean (The Wirral).