Wolves put themselves back in the hunt for a Coca-Cola Championship play-off place with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Colchester at Layer Road.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake raced through to give the visitors a first-half lead and despite both sides creating chances aplenty after the break, neither managed to alter the scoreline.

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey passed a late fitness test for Wolves but it was the hosts who began the brighter with veteran defender Gary Breen blocking Clive Platt's effort after Kevin McLeod's cross.

Colchester almost broke the deadlock moments later when Michael Gray handled the ball on the edge of the box. McLeod steered Chris Coyne's free-kick towards goal but Hennessey saved well.

Midfielder Karl Duguid then fired a speculative effort harmlessly over the Wales international's crossbar as the hosts' went in search of the opening goal.

Wolves were not without chances of their own, with Stephen Elliott finding himself well-placed inside the box and only Kevin Watson's block prevented his shot from finding the net.

Colchester's top scorer Kevin Lisbie almost broke the deadlock but fired narrowly wide of Hennessey's right-hand post after making space for a shot on the edge of the Wolves box.

But it was the visitors who went ahead on the half-hour mark, with Ebanks-Blake grabbing his third goal for Wolves following his January transfer from Plymouth.

Elliott sent the striker racing through with a pass from inside his own half before Ebanks-Blake finished past goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

Lisbie had a chance to level the game just before the break but failed to beat Hennessey.

Us midfielder Johnnie Jackson forced Hennessey into a smart stop with a close-range strike just after the break.

Wolves almost doubled their lead but Coyne managed to block Darren Potter's effort after a corner taken by Gray had fallen nicely for him inside the box.

Ebanks-Blake could have added to his tally but failed to hit the target when a free-kick taken by Michael Gray found its way to Ebanks-Blake unmarked inside the Colchester box.

Colchester continued to look for an equaliser and almost grabbed one when Breen gave away a free-kick for an unfair challenge on Lisbie. Jackson crossed for Dean Hammond, who headed wide of the left-hand post when well placed inside the box.

David Edwards and Kevin Kyle both missed late chances for Wolves but Ebanks-Blake's strike proved enough to earn Mick McCarthy's side a vital three points.