Second-half goals from Michael Gray and Kevin Kyle boosted Wolves' hopes of making the play-offs with a comfortable win at fellow Coca-Cola Championship promotion hopefuls Crystal Palace.

Both sides needed a win to revive their play-off hopes after some mixed results in recent weeks, but it was goalless at half-time at Selhurst Park.

The match started at a lively tempo and both sides created openings during the first 25 minutes but as the game wore on it seemed to be destined for a stalemate until Gray struck.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, back in the Wolves side after being cup-tied for last week's defeat to Cardiff, had the first opportunity of the game, but his effort from the edge of the box was blocked by Mark Hudson.

Tom Soares had the hosts' first effort on goal but he headed wide of Wayne Hennessey's right-hand post.

A 13th-minute free-kick from Karl Henry picked out Ebanks-Blake in space but the former Plymouth striker headed straight at Palace keeper Julian Speroni.

Five minutes later Speroni had to be alert to tip Stephen Elliott's long-range effort round the post. From the resulting corner Darren Potter picked out Jody Craddock but the former Sunderland centre-back headed wide from 12 yards.

At the other end Finland striker Shefki Kuqi tested Hennessey from the edge of the box but the Wales shot-stopper made a comfortable save.

Speroni had to be alert to come out and catch Gray's dangerous free-kick five minutes before the interval, then Hennessey had to be on his toes to keep out Carl Fletcher's effort from 25 yards.

On the stroke of half-time Elliott tried his luck from the edge of the area but Speroni made an easy save.

Ebanks-Blake blazed wide in the opening exchanges of the second half and then team-mate David Edwards also shot off target from outside the penalty area.

At the other end of the pitch Ben Watson shot wide from the edge of the box before Fletcher shot straight at Hennessey from 12 yards.

Substitute Paul Ifill headed over the bar for the Eagles, and Neil Warnock threw on James Scowcroft and Clinton Morrison in a desperate bid to breath some life into the home side's attack.

The deadlock was eventually broken with 14 minutes remaining, former Blackburn left-back Gray curling an effort from 18 yards into the top corner of the goal.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was dealt a blow with five minutes remaining when Hennessey went off injured to be replaced by Graham Stack, but moments later the points were safe as Kyle doubled the visitors' lead.

The former Sunderland man, who had come on as a sub, belted a 25-yard effort high into the centre of the goal.

Ifill tested Stack and Fletcher shot wide but there was no way back for Warnock's side.

Teams:

Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hudson, Hill, Soares (Ifill 58), Fletcher, Watson, Derry, Hills (Morrison 57), Kuqi (Scowcroft 69).

Subs Not Used: Fonte, Scannell.

Booked: Kuqi, Fletcher.

Wolverhampton Hennessey (Stack 87), Collins, Breen, Craddock, Elokobi, Henry, Potter, David Edwards, Elliott (Foley 87), Gray, Ebanks-Blake (Kyle 81).

Subs Not Used: Olofinjana, Eastwood.

Booked: Elokobi.

Goals: Gray 76, Kyle 89.

Att: 15,679

Ref: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).