Another brilliant Daryl Murphy goal has seen the Blues into a 1-0 half-time lead over Wolves at Portman Road.

Kevin Bru and Jay Tabb came into the Town side for the injured Cole Skuse and Teddy Bishop with the midfield duo out with groin injuries, along with keeper Dean Gerken and right-back Jonny Parr, while Jonny Williams was missing with a calf problem.

The Blues were first to threaten in the second minute, David McGoldrick feeding Daryl Murphy to his left and the Irishman hitting a powerful low shot which Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme claimed at the second attempt.

On six Stephen Hunt, playing on the right of the front three, crossed towards Murphy in the Wolves box. The ball ran loose and the grounded Town striker tried unsuccessfully to find a team-mate before the visitors cleared.

Town continued to have the better of it, with McGoldrick often dropping deep and seeing a lot of the ball, and on 12 Murphy shot over from 20 yards out on the left.

Wolves went close to going in front in the 13th minute when Leon Clarke’s shot deflected to Bakary Sako eight yards out but skipper Luke Chambers got across to block. The Midlanders lost Dave Edwards to injury a minute later with Michael Jacobs taking over.

Despite that chance it was the Blues who were on top and in the 15th minute they almost profited from a goalkeeping error when Ikeme dropped a Bru cross from the left at McGoldrick’s feet. The striker looked set to score but Ethan Ebanks-Landell somehow managed to divert the ball wide.

Bru hit a powerful 30-yard strike straight at Ikeme in the 19th minute with the Blues still having more of the ball and most of the chances.

On 26 Bru chipped the ball to the right of the area towards Hunt, who deftly flicked a low ball into the box with the outside of his left foot towards the sliding Tabb, who stabbed straight at Ikeme from a matter of feet. A yard or so either side of the keeper and it would have been a superbly worked opening Town goal.

Moments later, Hyam picked up the game’s first yellow card - and his fifth of the season meaning he’ll miss the Watford match - for a foul on Lee Evans just outside the area on the right. McGoldrick blocked Sako’s well-struck freekick, then within a minute Wolves right-back Matt Doherty joined Hyam in the book for a foul on Tyrone Mings.

Tommy Smith got in the way of Sako’s 33rd minute strike after the winger had cut in from the left but the Blues had been on top throughout the half, and in the 35th they got their reward.

Murphy out-muscled Kevin McDonald as the Wolves man looked to bring the ball out of the area, then turned and hit a curling 20-yard left-foot shot which Ikeme could only palm into the corner of the net. It was the ninth goal of Murphy’s excellent season and up there with the very best of them.

The Irishman went close again a minute later when he latched on to a Hunt pass inside the area but shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Town continued to press as the game moved towards half-time, Smith heading Hunt’s left-sided corner over the bar.

In injury time Wolves claimed a penalty as Jacobs went to ground with Smith holding him off as Bialkowski came off his line quickly to claim a ball through the middle. Referee Andrew Madley waved away the rather half-hearted appeals.

There was still time for Town to threaten again before the whistle. After McGoldrick had been fouled just outside the area on the right, Hunt played a low freekick across the area to the Blues frontman, who scuffed a shot which Ikeme just about got across and kept out.

The Blues were well worth their lead at the break having been the better side and having had enough chances to be even further in front. Ikeme had been much the busier of the two keepers with Town home debutant Bialkowski having rarely been tested.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Bru, Hyam, Tabb, Hunt, McGoldrick, Murphy. Subs: Crowe, Anderson, Bajner, Hewitt, Henshall, Ambrose, Sammon.

Wolves: Ikeme, Doherty, Batth (c), Ebanks-Landell, Rowe, McDonald, Evans, Henry, Edwards (Jacobs 14), Sako, Clarke. Subs: Kuszczak, Stearman, Saville, van La Parra, Ricketts, McAlinden. Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire).

Photo: Action Images

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