Wolves held on for a narrow win at Molineux despite a strong second-half fightback from struggling Burnley.

The Black Country club had won just once in their previous nine home matches but Michael Kightly nodded them in front with just under four minutes gone.

The Clarets, whose winless run now stretches to 13 games, responded well without testing Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray and Stephen Ward stabbed home a second for the hosts five minutes before the break.

Half-time substitute Chris McCann pulled one back just after the interval but despite hemming Wolves in with long balls for long periods, the visitors could not find an equaliser with Steve Caldwell hitting the bar late on.

They are now looking over their shoulders but Wolves kept their play-off chances alive with a third win in four matches.

The hosts could not have wished for a better start. Just inside four minutes, Jackie McNamara cut in from the left and clipped in a right-footed cross which Kightly glanced into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Danny Coyne no chance.

The visitors attempt at a response saw Wade Elliott fire well off target and Joey Gudjonsson rifle a free-kick just over.

They were gifted an opening in the 22nd minute when Steve Jones' cross was misjudged by Rob Edwards but the defender recovered to take the ball off the hesitant Ade Akinbiyi.

The Clarets had a shout for a penalty when McNamara's arm blocked Elliott's cross but Wolves broke quickly and Kightly was thwarted by Coyne from Michael McIndoe's precise cross.

Jones brought a routine stop from Murray but five minutes before the interval Andy Keogh had a header saved low down by Coyne at the other end.

However, seconds later, Wolves widened the gap to two goals when Ward brought the ball forward and rode an unconvincing challenge from Mike Duff before toe-poking the ball low past Coyne.

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill brought on youngsters Kyle Lafferty and McCann and in the 53rd minute, the Clarets halved the deficit.

Duff's long throw was flicked on by Gray to Akinbiyi and his pass fell to McCann, who was given the space to drive the ball low into the corner from the edge of the area.

A more direct approach from Burnley was causing the Wolves defence all sorts of problems to the extent that Jody Craddock, who has been absent with an Achilles problem, was brought on for Kightly.

The returning centre-back almost handed Burnley an equaliser, immediately mis-judging a long clearance to allow Lafferty through, only for the Northern Ireland international to hit the side-netting.

In a rare attack, Seyi George Olofinjana swapped passes with Ward before heading just wide.

While the Clarets remained in the ascendency, Olofinjana had an effort clawed around the post by Coyne from Ward's corner.

With three minutes left, Caldwell headed onto the bar from Elliott's corner but Wolves clung on for three points.

Teams:

Wolverhampton Murray, Henry, Neill Collins, Edwards, McNamara,Kightly (Craddock 65), Olofinjana, Potter,McIndoe (Bothroyd 77), Ward, Keogh (Mark Davies 90).

Subs Not Used: Budtz, Clapham.

Goals: Kightly 5, Ward 40.

Burnley Coyne, Caldwell, McGreal, Duff (Foster 88), Harley,James O'Connor, Elliott, Gudjonsson (McCann 46),Jones (Lafferty 46), Gray, Akinbiyi.

Subs Not Used: Thomas, Djemba-Djemba.

Booked: Gudjonsson, Duff.

Goals: McCann 53.

Att: 19,521

Ref: K Friend (Leicestershire).