Wolves recorded their first win in five games in a tempestuous encounter against 10-man Burnley at Turf Moor to rekindle their automatic promotion hopes.

The visitors looked to have killed off the game when racing into a three-goal lead at the interval through a Dean Sturridge brace and a brilliant Colin Cameron volley.

But the Clarets fought back superbly, despite seeing Alan Moore red-carded in the 57th minute, and almost grabbed a point against all the odds as Ian Moore and David Johnson scored after the break.

But Dave Jones' side hung on grimly to keep ahead of Black Country rivals West Brom as the race to the Premiership enters its last throes.

The visitors were full value for their first-half lead but things could have been a lot different had Orpington official Barry Knight not enraged thehome faithful with a series of controversial decisions.

Burnley thought they had gone ahead in the seventh minute when Gareth Taylor headed home a Paul Gascoigne free-kick, but referee Knight ruled the goal out for a foul on Wolves keeper Michael Oakes.

The home fans roared their disapproval which turned into rage three minutes later when the visitors went ahead in controversial circumstances through Sturridge.

Cameron looked clearly offside on the right flank when released by Rae, but Knight waved play on and when the ball rebounded to Cameron off Mitchell Thomas, the Scot set up Sturridge for the simplest of tap-ins from six yards.

With a sell-out Burnley crowd still screaming their anger Wolves almost added a second two minutes later.

Gascoigne was caught in possession and Cameron again broke down the right flank to tee up Sturridge only for Clarets right-back Dean West to head his shot off the line with Michopoulos beaten. The Kent referee infuriated the home fans even more in the 18th minute when Kevin Cooper, making his Wolves debut after his £1million move from Wimbledon in midweek, left West writhing in agony after a two-footed lunge only for Knight to wave play on.

West sought his own retribution seven minutes later with his own two-footed lunge on Mohamed Camara which earned him a yellow card and almost sparked a melee.

Things went from bad to worse for the Clarets in the 27th minute when Wolves added a second through Sturridge.

Shaun Newton broke down the right flank this time and his low cross presented the former Leicester striker with another straightforward tap-in which he gleefully accepted from four yards.

The visitors were given a mighty let-off in the 33rd minute when Paul Butler handled Gascoigne's corner but Knight merely gave Burnley another flag-kick as the home players protested.

And in stoppage time Wolves stunned the home crowd when adding a third in some style through Cameron.

Gunner Halle, on loan from Bradford and on for the injured Sean Connelly, released the Scottish midfielder and his fierce volley flew past Michopoulos and into the roof of the net.

Burnley boss Stan Ternent hauled both Gascoigne and Taylor off at the interval, putting Ian Moore up front and Glen Little in midfield.

And the move paid dividends 74 seconds into the half as Ian Moore headed low past Oakes from eight yards from a Lee Briscoe free-kick.

Kevin Ball almost added a second but his fierce right-foot volley flew straight at Oakes, and Camara then went into Knight's notebook for upending Gnohere as the Clarets poured forward in search of a second goal.

George Ndah replaced Blake in the 56th minute as Jones freshened up hisforward line.

But a minute later the pendulum swung firmly back in Wolves' favour when the Clarets were reduced to 10 men.

Alan Moore flicked out at Halle after the right-back had gone to ground following a tackle from the winger and Knight gave the former Middlesbrough man a straight red card.

Still Burnley pressed forward and Rae became the fourth player to be booked for hauling down Paul Weller as he bore down on goal. Briscoe then joined him in Knight's notebook for impeding Ndah.

Just when it seemed Wolves were heading for victory Johnson grabbed a second for the Clarets five minutes from time, firing low past Oakes with his left foot from 10 yards.

With Wolves now visibly rattled, the Clarets threw everything at them as they looked for a third but the west midlanders held on for a vital win.

Teams

Burnley: Michopoulos, West, Thomas, Gnohere, Briscoe, Weller (Grant 73), Ball, Gascoigne (Little 45), Alan Moore, Taylor (Ian Moore 45), Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Armstrong, Payton.

Sent Off: Alan Moore (58).

Booked: West, Gnohere, Briscoe.

Goals: Ian Moore 47, Johnson 85.

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Connelly (Halle 23), Camara, Lescott, Butler, Cooper, Cameron, Rae, Newton, Blake (Ndah 57), Sturridge (Miller 79).

Subs Not Used: Andrews, Murray.

Booked: Newton, Rae.

Goals: Sturridge 9, 26, Cameron 45.

Att: 21,823

Ref: B Knight (Orpington).