Wolves dropped two precious points in the race for a play-off place as they
were held by neighbours West Brom in a passionate derby at Molineux.
Keith Curle's 54th minute penalty miss proved to be the game's crucial moment,
the Wolves skipper blazing over from the spot after Kevin Kilbane was adjudged
to have held back Kevin Muscat on a run into the area.
The home side, although dominating for considerable spells, did not threaten
often enough after that and rarely looked like breaking through again until
substitute Robbie Keane fired over at the end of a fine run.
Another Wolves substitute, Steve Bull, was then shut out brilliantly by a
tackle from Albion skipper Daryl Burgess as the Baggies maintained their recent
supremacy in the Black Country fixture.
Keane was surprisingly kept on the bench at the start following his return
from international duty with the Republic of Ireland at the World Under-20
championships in Nigeria.
In his initial absence, Wolves started brightly and with good purpose but were
unable to create clear openings.
And it was Albion who drew first blood in the 17th minute from their only shot
of the first half.
A routine cross from the right by First Division leading scorer Lee Hughes
found a big gap in the centre of Wolves' defence and Micky Evans controlled and
toe-poked home from eight yards.
Neil Emblen saw a cross shot blocked near the line for the second time but
Steve Corica - Wolves' match winner in last weekend's derby at Birmingham - was
guilty of the worst miss of the half when he stabbed horribly wide under
pressure from three yards after Paul Simpson had laid back a deep cross by
Havard Flo.
Steve Sedgley then went close to an equaliser when he capitalised on
determined work by Muscat following a drop-ball, only to see keeper Phil
Whitehead produce a good block with his body.
Carl Robinson was booked for a late tackle on Kilbane in the centre circle but
Wolves' Welsh B international equalised shortly afterwards in the 38th minute
when he appeared unseen at the far post to turn home left-footed from a curling
free-kick by Simpson.
The game seemed there for the winning for Wolves against opponents who have
little to play for other than in trying to secure the future of under pressure
manager Denis Smith.
They would probably have done that but Curle, having scored an own goal
decider in the meeting at West Brom last season, lost his cool when shooting a
couple of feet over from his big penalty chance.
Keane went on for Corica within seconds and Wolves had most of the play from
then on without looking particularly dangerous.
On the break, Albion, who didn't win their only corner until the 69th minute,
had a half chance themselves when Hughes escaped after a mistake by Dean
Richards and brought a good save from Mike Stowell.
The draw leaves Wolves one point ahead of Watford, with two more goals scored
as the two teams look to their final three matches, Bolton standing just in
front of both but from one more match played.
Teams
Wolverhampton: Stowell, Muscat, Gilkes, Sedgley, Richards, Curle,
Robinson, Emblen, Flo (Bull 84), Corica (Keane 55), Simpson (Osborn 78).
Booked: Muscat, Robinson.
Goals: Robinson 37.
West Brom: Whitehead, McDermott, Potter, Van Blerk, Burgess,
Carbon, Flynn, Sneekes, Evans (Quinn 65), Hughes, Kilbane.
Subs Not Used: Maresca, De Freitas.
Booked: Van Blerk, Carbon, Sneekes.
Goals: Evans 18.
Att: 27,038
Ref: M Pierce (Portsmouth).
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