Town's dismal start to their home league campaign continued as Wolves ran out 2-0 victors at Portman Road. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and David Edwards scored the goals, while Alex Bruce saw red for a two-footed lunge.

The Blues lined-up as expected with Liam Trotter making way for Danny Haynes, the wideman starting on the left with Jon Walters on the right, although the pair switched 15 minutes into the game. Otherwise, it was the team which defeated Burnley a week ago.

Wolves started strongly and dominated the early stages without creating anything of note in front of goal.

It was the Blues who struck the game's first shot in the seventh minute, but Veliche Shumulikoski's effort flew well over.

Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo made a strong run towards the Town area on 16 but Richard Wright parried his shot and the former Colchester man's attempt to cross the loose ball was cut out.

Matthew Jarvis was getting a lot of space down the Wolves left and in the 19th minute was given time to hit a shot from just inside the area, but Richard Naylor got across to block.

Wolves had been on top throughout with the Blues never able to impose themselves on the game. The goal the visitors deserved came in the 20th minute. Jarvis was allowed to send in a cross from the Wolves left, which Sylvan Ebanks-Blake nodded past Richard Wright.

Town claimed a penalty in the 26th minute when Kevin Lisbie appeared to be manhandled as he chased a ball into the box, but Premier League and FIFA official Steve Tanner awarded merely a corner. Mick McCarthy's side broke quickly from the Town set piece and Shumulikoski was booked for a somewhat cynical foul.

The visitors might have added to their lead in the 31st minute when Neill Collins headed narrowly past the post from a freekick.

Wright saved from Iwelumo, prior to Jon Walters switching to a striking role with Alan Lee moving to the left side of midfield role he occupied in the second half at Burnley. Walters managed Town's first serious shot in the 37th minute, but the ball merely scuffed the roof of the net.

Iwelumo headed straight at Wright, before Danny Haynes wildly lashed a loose ball wide after a freekick had been cleared to him on the edge of the area.

Town had been very much second best in the first half against an energetic and impressive Wolves side, which had never allowed the Blues time to get their natural passing going. Town's strikers had never managed to keep the ball when it was played up to them and threatened the Wolves goal very little, so it was no surprise that Pablo Couñago took over from Alan Lee for the second half.

The Blues began the second period much more positively with Couñago's hold-up play bringing the wide midfield into play. Walters shot straight at Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey from the edge of the box on 47, but was flagged offside. Then Couñago also struck the ball at Hennessey after a promising break.

Lisbie made an impressive run down the left in the 51st minute and found Haynes, but his shot flew narrowly over the bar. A minute later, Couñago again shot straight to the keeper.

Owen Garvan replaced Veliche Shumulikoski on 53, prior to Hennessey making his most taxing save of the afternoon, the Welsh international getting across to his left to push Couñago's shot round the post.

Michael Kightly was near to adding to his side's lead in the 56th minute but struck his effort across the face of Richard Wright's goal. At the other end, Hennessey was out quickly to reach a ball over the top ahead of Lisbie, who appeared to have reacted slowly to the bounce of the ball beating centre-half Richard Stearman.

Town almost got back on terms on the hour. Haynes left George Elokobi in a heap in the area and squared the ball to Tommy Miller. The midfielder's shot deflected straight up in the air, Hennessey punched poorly and Miller hit a shot which was goalbound until Stearman blocked it on the line. There were appeals for a penalty, but mainly from the crowd.

The game carried on while Elokobi remained on the ground, Town perhaps reluctant to put the ball out of play after the former Colchester man had made a somewhat dramatic dive after an earlier Alex Bruce tackle. Eventually, the play stopped and Elokobi received treatment and departed on a stretcher, while skipper Karl Henry was booked for protests made to referee Tanner.

Richard Naylor will feel he should have hit the target with a header from Miller's 68th minute corner, before Liam Trotter replaced Danny Haynes, who was already off the field receiving treatment for cramp.

Richard Wright pulled off a fabulous save from Richard Stearman, somehow managing to push out the defender's header from a freekick played deep to the far post when Wolves looked certain to have scored their second goal. Richard Naylor cleared the loose ball from the line.

Town's push for an equaliser had lost its impetus after the two injuries and the game was all but over in the 75th minute when Alex Bruce was shown a straight red card for a two-footed jump tackle. The defender had allowed the ball to run away from him on halfway and dived in to win the challenge, but with rather too much enthusiasm. Despite protests, referee Tanner appeared to have made the right decision.

The red card left the Blues shocked and within seconds they were two goals behind. Matthew Jarvis cut in from the left and hit a shot which Wright couldn't hold and sub David Edwards was on hand to ram home.

There was no way back for Town and a third Wolves goal looked more likely in the remaining minutes. Trotter shot wide, then Wright made another fabulous save, diving to his left to stop a shot from Edwards which looked bound for the top corner.

Lisbie just failed to get a touch on a Thatcher ball over the top, before Couñago was booked for a frustrated foul well inside his own half.

Edwards, who was a big threat during his spell on the field, managed the game's final effort in injury time, but sent the ball beyond the post.

A well deserved victory for an industrious and dangerous Wolves side, who look to have moved on significantly from the team which drew 1-1 with the Blues on the penultimate day of last season.

Town by contrast were stultified by the visitors' endeavour and were never allowed the time on the ball to get their passing going. The likes of Lee, Lisbie and Walters were well handled by the Wolves centre-halves, while the Blues' backline were never comfortable against strikers Ebanks-Blake and Iwelumo and widemen Kightly and Jarvis.

The Blues had a 10-15 minute spell just after the break when they created a number of chances, but Hennessey in the Wolves goal was rarely tested, while at the other end Wright made two excellent stops, the almost impossible save from Stearman the pick.

Town won't face too many better sides than Wolves this season, however, with all the money spent and so new faces in the squad, it must be a concern to boss Jim Magilton that his team fared so poorly against one of the clubs he is aiming to beat for a place in the Premier League.

Town: Wright, Bruce, Thatcher, McAuley, Naylor, Shumulikoski (Garvan 53), Miller, Haynes (Trotter 69), Walters, Lisbie, Lee (Couñago 46). Unused: Supple, Balkestein. Att: 21,483.

Photo: Action Images

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