Wolves suffered a setback to their fast-fading hopes of reaching the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs as they were held by Crewe at Molineux.

It took a Mark Kennedy strike in the second minute of first-half stoppage time to earn Wolves a point, although just as Crewe had bossed the first half, so the home side were on top thereafter and were worth a draw.

Wolves began the day eight points outside the play-offs, and finished it nine adrift, while Crewe remain cut adrift at the foot of the table.

Dario Gradi's men would not have been flattered by a two or three-goal advantage at the break, but the Championship's bottom team were wasteful.

Yet they made an outstanding start, going ahead on six minutes when Steve Jones crossed from the right and highly-rated young midfielder Billy Jones fired into the bottom right corner.

Wolves, who were without a goal since January 13, looked to reply and Polish striker Tomasz Frankowski - seeking his first goal for the club - headed wide from Seol Ki-Hyeon's centre.

Defender Joleon Lescott missed a clear chance to equalise in the 24th minute, lifting his shot over the bar from six yards after connecting with Paul Ince's corner.

The home side were still struggling to contain Crewe, however, and Steve Jones thumped a shot against the bar from 25 yards.

Stefan Postma in the Wolves goal then made two saves in quick succession, firstly from Luke Rodgers and then from Steve Jones, before the goalkeeper parried a Billy Jones free-kick.

The out-of-sorts Seol made way for Kenny Miller in the 40th minute as Glenn Hoddle decided a tactical change was in order.

And the move sparked Wolves to life, Kennedy rifling home a leveller in stoppage time.

In the second half Billy Jones cleared the Wolves bar with two early shots as Crewe looked to restore their lead.

Miller, who will leave to join Celtic in the summer, sent his first shot on goal wide of the left post from the edge of the penalty area.

Ross Turnbull then had to make a save from Wolves midfielder Denes Rosa as the Hungarian also threatened on his first start for the club.

Rodgers sent his volley too close to Postma at the other end as the game opened up, while Carl Cort, hitherto quiet, had a close-range effort blocked by Crewe's Lee Bell.

Frankowski's volley was caught safely by Turnbull who also gripped onto Lee Naylor's 18-yard effort.

Anthony Tonkin got his body between Frankowski's next effort and goal, before Miller lashed a shot over the bar.

Frankowski came off after 73 minutes with Vio Ganea his replacement.

Crewe appeared to be clinging on for 1-1, amid mounting pressure, but they almost pinched it five minutes from time when Steve Jones found space in the penalty area and drew a parried stop from Postma.

Wolverhampton Postma, Edwards (Ross 75), Lescott, Craddock,Naylor, Seol (Miller 41), Ince, Rosa, Kennedy, Cort,Frankowski (Ganea 73).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Ricketts.

Goals: Kennedy 45.

Crewe Turnbull, Otsemobor, Foster, Walker, Tonkin,Steve Jones, Billy Jones, Roberts, Bell (McCready 90),Higdon (Varney 63), Rodgers.

Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, O'Connor, Grant.

Goals: Billy Jones 6.

Att: 21,683

Ref: L Mason (Lancashire).