Wolves midfielder Darren Potter scored his first senior goal in some style to pave the way for a replay victory over Oldham that sets up an Black Country derby against West Brom in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Coca-Cola Championship side, 10 places above the Latics in the Football League, were on the back foot for the opening period and were indebted to Matt Murray after the goalkeeper pulled off a decent stop from Stefan Stam.

Just after Murray pulled off a similar low save from Will Haining at the start of the second half, Potter, on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool that Wolves want to make permanent, hit a thunderous effort from 25 yards that sailed past Les Pogliacomi.

Striker Craig Davies then grabbed his second of the campaign with a header from Rohan Ricketts' cross to ease Mick McCarthy's men through.

Wolves started with five men in midfield, giving them plenty of early possession but they found it hard to get bodies forward during an underwhelming opening period.

The hosts settled quickly and winger Andy Liddell fed Chris Porter only for the striker to blast high and wide from 20 yards in the ninth minute.

A dangerous cross from former Scotland international Liddell was only cleared as far as Gary McDonald and Karl Henry did well to block the Latics midfielder's shot.

The visitors finally managed an attack of note when Henry robbed Richie Wellens in midfield and worked the ball left, via Potter, to Ricketts, who cut in from the left and curled narrowly off-target.

The chance of the half came with just over 20 minutes gone when Oldham's Neal Eardley lobbed to Stam in the box and the defender's well-struck shot was turned wide by Murray.

Just before the half-hour, Wolves' lone striker Davies glanced Michael McIndoe's whipped cross goalwards, making Oldham goalkeeper Pogliacomi work for the first time.

Oldham continued to stretch the visitors and Porter just failed to get a head on Paul Warne's cross in the final minute of the first half.

It was a scrappy start to the second half but the turning point came nine minutes after the restart.

Murray pulled off another fine low stop, this time from Haining, and following the resulting corner, there were furious Oldham protests about Henry's challenge on Wellens in the box.

Referee Kevin Wright waved play on and Wolves broke the length of the pitch to earn a corner themselves.

Ricketts whipped the ball in but it was cleared only as far as Potter, who lashed the ball into the top right corner from 25 yards.

The Latics continued to battle, with Warne a constant irritation to the Wolves defence but the Championship side started to look more and more comfortable.

And with just over 15 minutes left, Ricketts' cross was glanced past Pogliacomi by Davies to make the tie all butafe.

Substitute Mark Davies then saw a drive pushed away by Pogliacomi and Oldham were a beaten side, with the visitors finally showing their greater class.

Ricketts could even have added a third after Pogliacomi's slack clearance and Wolves eased through the five minutes of added time.

Teams:

Oldham Pogliacomi, Eardley, Haining, Stam (Edwards 74),Charlton, Liddell, McDonald, Wellens, Taylor, Warne (Hall 74),Porter.

Subs Not Used: Terry Smith, Rocastle, Wood.

Booked: McDonald.

Wolverhampton Murray, Little, Breen, Collins,Clapham (Edwards 46), Ricketts, Potter, Henry, Olofinjana,McIndoe (Mark Davies 60), Craig Davies (Johnson 87).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Rosa.

Goals: Potter 56, Craig Davies 75.

Att: 9,628

Ref: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).