Stockport scored twice in the last seven minutes to plunder a madcap victory over Wolves at Molineux.

The home side took the lead three times but each time the visitors equalised in a game of three penalties and mediocre quality.

Robbie Keane saw a spot-kick saved by keeper Eric Nixon when a 4-2 lead was beckoning for Wanderers - and a hat-trick was on offer for the brilliant Irish teenager.

That was in the 73rd minute and 10 minutes later, Kevin Cooper lashed home his second penalty of the game after Wolves skipper Keith Curle had been harshly adjudged to have brought down the Stockport winger.

Curle limped off shortly afterwards, then midfielder Chris Byrne bundled home the winner three minutes from time from Cooper's corner.

The game ended in a chorus of boos from Wolves supporters as under-fire manager Mark McGhee made a hasty exit for the dressing room while his players went off on a token lap of honour.

Earlier, Wolves had appeared to be edging towards a second successive home victory on the strength of another impish performance by Keane.

The 17-year-old, who made a tremendous home debut for the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, needed only five minutes to steer home a close-range left-foot shot after Mark Atkins had sent full-back Kevin Muscat overlapping on the right.

Stockport had earlier missed a sitter when the prolific Brett Angell had fired over an unguarded net from 20 yards, then Aaron Wilbraham shot into the side netting from another clear chance.

But, after Steve Bull had brought a superb save from Eric Nixon, Stockport equalised in the 40th minute as Cooper sidefooted home his first spot-kick after a double error by Hans Segers, first in spilling a corner from Paul Cook and then in bringing down midfielder Byrne as he tried to recover from his mistake.

Wolves needed only five minutes to go back in front, Atkins collecting a chip forward by Simon Osborn, ignoring Stockport's offside claims and rolling a mis-hit shot past the flailing Nixon.

Stockport spent much of the second half back-pedalling but equalised in their first serious attack since the interval when Byrne drove home left-footed from the edge of the area following a run by Angell in the 57th minute.

Again Wolves had the perfect response as Keane waltzed past Nixon to slide in his second goal and his side's third following a fine through-ball from Atkins.

If Keane had then scored from the spot following a foul on him which earned Nixon a booking, Wolves would probably have been home and dry.

But their defence were caught dozing under pressure and finally caved in during the final seven minutes.

The defeat increases the pressure on McGhee, although he has been given a vote of confidence and an assurance he will still be in charge next season.

Teams

Wolverhampton: Segers, Muscat, Naylor, Atkins, Emblen, Curle (Slater 84), Goodman, Simpson (Robinson 75), Bull, Keane, Osborn.

Subs Not Used: Claridge.

Goals: Keane 5, Atkins 45, Keane 59.

Stockport: Nixon, Connelly, Woodthorpe (Searle 56), Byrne, Flynn, McIntosh, Cook (Phillips 75), Wallwork, Angell, Wilbraham (Grant 67), Cooper.

Booked: Nixon.

Goals: Cooper 40 pen, Byrne 57, Cooper 83 pen, Byrne 86.

Att: 22,452

Ref: R D Furnandiz (Doncaster).