Lacklustre Wolves failed to convince observers their promotion jitters had come to an end after they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Ipswich in an uninspiring Coca-Cola Championship clash.

The league leaders, fresh from two successive wins on the road after a run of just one win in 11 attempts, dominated proceedings in the first half but failed to show enough quality, especially in the final third, to break the deadlock.

And it was more of the same after the restart, with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake coming the closest to breaking the deadlock when his placed effort cannoned back off the crossbar.

Ipswich offered next to nothing going forward but they will see it as a valuable point gained in their outside bid to secure a play-off place.

But it will register as two points dropped for Wolves as the race for promotion hots up. Kyel Reid was handed a start for Wolves on the right while Stephen Ward also replaced George Friend on the opposite flank.

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton, meanwhile, made four changes to the side beaten 3-0 at home to Southampton at the weekend.

Captain Gareth McAuley was suspended while Jon Stead, Pablo Counago and Alex Bruce all dropped to the bench.

The visitors adopted a 4-5-1 formation from the off in an attempt to win the midfield battle but they also showed glimpses of their attacking intent early on.

Yet it was the hosts who enjoyed the majority of the play in the opening 20 minutes albeit without creating much in the final third.

The Black Country faithful had to wait until the 22nd minute for the first real attempt on goal as Richard Wright palmed David Jones' 25-yard free-kick over the crossbar.

Mick McCarthy's side were seeing plenty of possession as the first half wore on but their inability to produce a quality final ball was thwarting their efforts every time they ventured forward.

Wolves were missing the creative contributions of Michael Kightly down the right, with the England Under-21 international restricted to a place on the bench due to a slight hamstring strain.

Reid came within inches of breaking the deadlock with a free-kick from 30 yards but both sides brought a disappointing opening 45 minutes to a goalless close.

Kightly was introduced at half-time in place of the ineffective Reid but the second half continued in much the same fashion as the first.

Wayne Hennessey was merely a spectator in the Wolves goal while the hosts huffed and puffed at the other end.

Wanderers almost took the lead just before the hour mark when Ebanks-Blake struck the bar after the ball broke to him the area, while Kightly could only fire the rebound wide.

The chance seemed to lift spirits inside Molineux but it did not last long.

Jody Craddock had to steer substitute Stead's goalbound effort to safety in the closing stages after a mix-up in the home defence.

Tommy Miller then fired over for the visitors in stoppage-time but the majority of the 22,227 crowd were left disappointed at the full-time whistle.

Teams

Wolverhampton Hennessey, Foley, Berra, Craddock,Hill (Keogh 80), Reid (Kightly 46), Jones, Edwards,Stephen Ward, Iwelumo (Vokes 57), Ebanks-Blake.

Subs Not Used: Darren Ward, Stearman.

Booked: Craddock.

Ipswich Richard Wright, David Wright, Campo, Balkestein,Thatcher, Walters (Counago 38), Norris, Miller, Quinn, Civelli,Lisbie (Stead 72).

Subs Not Used: Supple, Garvan, Bruce.

Booked: Thatcher, Norris, Quinn, David Wright.

Att: 22,227

Ref: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).