Former Blues loanee Richard Stearman headed a first-half own goal but Benik Afobe equalised five minutes after the break as Town and Wolves drew 1-1 in the clash of the play-off chasers at Molineux.

Jay Tabb replaced Stephen Hunt at left midfield in a Town side otherwise unchanged from the team which beat Cardiff 3-1 on Tuesday.

Wolves, where Mick McCarthy spent six years as manager, Terry Connor was his assistant and briefly boss, and Hunt and Christophe Berra were players, included former Town loanee Stearman from the start at centre of the defence.

Town started the stronger, winning an early corner, then in the third minute Freddie Sears found strike partner Daryl Murphy inside the area to the right but the Blues’ 24-goal Championship top scorer shot across the face of goal and wide.

The home side began to get on top of a game played in sunny but breezy conditions and in the seventh minute Nouha Dicko did well to cut the ball back from the byline on the left having beaten Blues skipper Luke Chambers, but Berra diverted it back to keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, who cleared.

Dicko was proving to be Wolves’ main threat in the opening minutes and on 10 the pacy frontman broke past Tommy Smith on the right but Berra was again there to challenge as he broke into the area.

Berra halted the Malian international’s progress again on the quarter hour after he had skipped away from Smith on halfway and was breaking towards goal.

Moments later, as the home side kept up the pressure, Wolves winger Rajiv van La Parra crossed from the right but was unable to find a team-mate.

Despite Wolves having looked by far the more dangerous side, the Blues went in front in the 21st minute. Bishop whipped over a corner from the right, Smith rose with Stearman, who inadvertently sent a the ball looping over keeper Carl Ikeme and into the corner of the net.

Smith claimed his fifth goal of the season but it seems likely to go down as an own goal by the former Town loanee, who failed to find the net for the Blues during his 15-game loan spell in the 2012/13 campaign.

The home side looked to hit back immediately, van La Parra shooting over and then Dicko failed to find the target with a header. However, the Town goal seemed to knock them out of their stride and the Molineux crowd quickly began to become frustrated.

On 33 Dicko cut into the area from the left but again found Berra in his way, the Scotland international this time blocking the one-time Wigan man’s shot.

Three minutes later, Jonny Parr was shown the game’s first yellow card for bringing down Benik Afobe as Wolves broke.

Wolves came within inches of getting back on terms in the 39th minute when Smith’s header from deep in the Town area fell to Dave Edwards, whose volley beat Bialkowski but struck the outside of his right post. Referee Stuart Attwell awarded a corner much to the surprise of the Blues players.

Two minutes later, Tabb was booked for a foul on Dicko, who required treatment on the pitch before continuing. The home crowd felt the challenge might have been worth more than just a yellow and the Blues midfielder was booed each time he touched the ball prior to referee Attwell’s whistle ending the half, signalling more boos.

While the Blues had found the pace of Dicko in particular hard to handle and Wolves had presented the greater threat for the most part, the home side had been prevented from creating many significant chances - with Berra usually the man in the way - prior to Town going in front.

The somewhat fortunate goal rather quietened Wolves down until Edwards’s late volley off the post.

A minute after the restart Dicko should have put his side back on terms, but headed Bakary Sako’s freekick from deep on the left into the side-netting at the far post. On 49 Dicko failed to get Dominic Iorfa’s low cross from under his feet and Bishop cleared.

The home side had begun the second half very much on top and a minute later they levelled. Van La Parra cut into the area on the left having been found by Kevin McDonald and hit a shot which deflected off Smith and across the area to the far post from where Afobe got ahead of Tyrone Mings to stab home.

It was the former Arsenal striker's 31st goal of the season and his 12th since joining Wolves in January.

In the 53rd minute Sears unleashed a 30-yard effort but Ikeme was able to comfortably block and then claim.

Wolves continued to have most of the ball and take the game to Town but without being able to create any more major chances. At the other end, the Blues had been unable to make much of an impact, all too often long balls forward for the front two were cut out.

Wolves switched James Henry for van La Parra on 64, then two minutes later Parr made way for Paul Anderson for the Blues.

Berra superbly slid in and took the ball away from Afobe as he broke into the area on 71, then within a minute stopped Dicko in his tracks as he reached the byline on the right.

Sears scuffed a rare Town effort wide in the 73rd minute, then a minute later ex-Wolves man Hunt replaced Bishop in the Blues midfield, Tabb moving to the centre.

The Irishman, who was applauded by his old fans as he made his way onto the field, immediately shot high and wide from distance.

Berra yet again thwarted Dicko in the 76th minute, the Blues centre-half sliding in to block after Afobe had fed his team-mate inside the area.

As the game moved towards its final 10 minutes Town started to have more of the ball in the Wolves half. On 80 Mings took a quick throw on the left but Hunt’s low cross was cut out ahead of Tabb.

But the home side were still a threat, Smith doing well to hold off Afobe to allow a wind-assisted punt down the middle to reach Bialkowski. Chris Wood replaced Sears for the final scheduled seven minutes.

Sako smashed a freekick into the Town wall on 85, from which the Blues broke and Wood curled a low shot not too far wide from the edge of the box. On 88 Dicko was booked for a foul on Chambers.

Wolves had one more chance to win it two minutes into injury time but Dicko was unable to get anything on Edwards’s scuffed shot from the right of the area.

Town boss Mick McCarthy will be happy enough with another battling away point with the home side having largely been on the front foot.

Typically staunch defending from man of the match Berra in particular meant that despite having most of the ball Wolves created only a limited number of chances. At the other end, the Blues only rarely threatened home keeper Ikeme.

Town are certain to end the day in sixth regardless of results elsewhere and have moved up to 75 points, equal with fifth-placed Derby, who are away at Huddersfield.

Wolves are now seventh, three points behind the Blues and a point in front of Brentford in eighth.

Wolves: Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth (c), Stearman, Golbourne, van La Parra (Henry 64), McDonald, Edwards, Sako, Afobe, Dicko. Unused: McCarey, Doherty, Doyle, Price, Ebanks-Landell, Jacobs.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Skuse, Bishop (S Hunt 74), Parr (Anderson 66), Tabb, Murphy, Sears (Wood 83). Unused: Gerken, Fryers, Chaplow, Williams. Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire). Attendance: 23,409.

Photo: Action Images

Fatboy added 15:02 - Apr 18 Correct, commuterblue. The only way we won't finish the day in sixth is if Huddersfield put 15 past Derby.
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dagenhamtown added 15:04 - Apr 18 guys and girls agree with everything on here we are a very very average side at best and lack complete quality.yes the football mick gives us is one dimmensional and boring but the man has been in the game a long time and in some ways i feel he has to work with the quality or lack of that he has.also lets blame evans here also for not investing in any quality at all when req . look poor standard today again on tv yes we cant put 3 passes together yes we are total long ball am i happy watching that no but hey a point to the play offs is closer if we do go up god help us.

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TimmyH added 15:06 - Apr 18 Agree! - Mick's pre-game interview that we were going for a win was a bit of a joke - did we have a shot on target? Berra had a good game and bailed the 'others' out on a few occasions but as an attacking force we were generally a non-entity with once again Sears only providing any attacking intent. Before the game I think the majority of us would have been happy if we'd not been beaten and thus the fate of getting into the play-offs still remains in our own hands. One things for sure we're going to have to improve IF* we do get in the play-offs - can we get to Wembley by stifling teams to death? I think not... * 2 games left - many cock-ups no doubt to come.

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Tractamatt added 15:07 - Apr 18 Why did MM not replace Bishop with Williams
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SloughBlue added 15:07 - Apr 18 Almost the same team as last Saturday and Tuesday the only difference being no negative comments after those 2 games.Mick/Terry have done their best with limited resources this season and built a team with a work ethic to be proud of.If the football/work rate are so poor why do so many of us follow home and away?We will still be 6th with 2 games to go which hasn't happened for a very long time.Surely now is the time to support the whole team(but especially Berra,Sears,Murphy)Two minor points though:why sign Jonny Williams if he isn't going to play and when will the conspiracy theory re David McGoldrick be sorted out?

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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:08 - Apr 18 Crap game. They were a little unlucky for our goal, although I think Tommy might have got it home had Stearman not. We were unlucky for theirs but it did come about from poor defending. Agree Parr not great today, made some awful attempts at tackling given he is a defender. Think we will see the best of him next season if Mings goes, which i think he will. Connelly sounds like he offers potential on the right hopefully we will see that next season. Just need a left winger. I much prefer Tabb in the middle. Anyway a point is ok. Its still in our hands. Dont think either side deserved to win it. Afobe looked a handful, love to have him in a town shirt. Sears ran like a racehorse all game till he went off. Wood should of squared it when we were 2 on 2 instead of trying to score from a tight angle. Lets hope Watford win and Brentford lose now!

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essexboy added 15:09 - Apr 18 BE HAPPY.Top six,sounds good to me with two to go.Some of you are never happy.😕
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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:12 - Apr 18 Crap game. They were a little unlucky for our goal, although I think Tommy might have got it home had Stearman not. We were unlucky for theirs but it did come about from poor defending. Agree Parr not great today, made some awful attempts at tackling given he is a defender. Think we will see the best of him next season if Mings goes, which i think he will. Connelly sounds like he offers potential on the right hopefully we will see that next season. Just need a left winger. I much prefer Tabb in the middle. Anyway a point is ok. Its still in our hands. Dont think either side deserved to win it. Afobe looked a handful, love to have him in a town shirt. Sears ran like a racehorse all game till he went off. Wood should of squared it when we were 2 on 2 instead of trying to score from a tight angle. Lets hope Watford win and Brentford lose now!

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blueboy1981 added 15:21 - Apr 18 .......... a dire point - sad thing is, that is what MM went for - and of course, yet again, he will be very happy with that. Protect the point we start with - now where have I seen that before this season ????? ..........
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yun added 15:23 - Apr 18 That was a pretty dreadful game only improving slightly in the second half with some added lift when provided by Hunt when he came on. As mentioned elsewhere, Berra's interventions were decisive. I find it totally exasperating that we so often can't seem to execute the basics of ball control and passing properly. One shot on target during the whole game. Yikes.
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bellazzurri79 added 15:27 - Apr 18 Why is jonny williams at town????? I'm a little bemused with this.... Mings Murphy and chambers were dog awful Sears Skuse were good Berra is too good for this side I'm not too sure why people think this was a good point... At half time we were 6 pts ahead of Wolves ...
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blueboy1981 added 15:34 - Apr 18 ........ Mick and Terry have done their best with limited resources, we've had a great season, people would have accepted this before the season started, be careful what you wish for, ME hasn't released funds, we have to be grateful for what we have, in MM we trust, .................. etc; etc; etc; etc; One good thing about the season ending is that for a few weeks anyway, we won't see as much of this drivel as we have had. Let's hope we find some AMBITION from somewhere during the close season - and start the season with a few more wanting to actually win something - or perhaps even get out of the Championship, before we take root. Or have we already ?? ................. not forgetting of course, that 'Pigs may Fly' - EVENTUALLY !!

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BlueWill added 15:35 - Apr 18 A points a point at this stage of this season, it's still in our hands, thought, Parr and Murphy were poor today gave ball away too much and seemed lazy, Murphy got better when Ando came on though, Berra was sensational. Happy with the result obviously would've been happier with a win.
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bomber21 added 15:40 - Apr 18 We are going to wolves to try and win the game MM said,hahahaha.p#ss taker.
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Fatboy added 15:41 - Apr 18 Usually I'd like to see Town be more attacking. However, today was the right time to be more conservative and make sure we didn't lose. If we'd come out all guns blazing in the second half and ended up losing and being level with Wolves and Brentford at the end of the day, I think the tactics would have been rightly criticised.
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Elizabeth added 15:43 - Apr 18 This was not pretty. I'd have the whole team practicing the basics of passing the ball to an opponent !! The midfield players must be so frustrated . We must show more composure on the ball.A good point I suppose .Closely watching what others are doing this afternoon.
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battyblue added 15:44 - Apr 18 I don't think we can win the playoffs with a point for each game can some one tell MM in case we do actually fluke it into the play off stages.................absolutly embarrasing performance of a game called football on our part but well done Chris Berra at least you are a proper footballer.
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essex57 added 15:47 - Apr 18 Well done boys ground out another important point theres plenty of teams who probably play better football but aint going anywhere 5 games then we could be in the promised land then with those resources at our disposal and Micks experience we can build a team that will do themselves justice
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westernblue added 15:57 - Apr 18 Totally agree with bellazzuri79. I am delighted that MM and TC and the players have taken the season right to the wire for us. But the football we play is dire, embarassing even in this division. Berra is a fine defender. Skuse offers great cover and puts a great shift in. Sears is an intelligent, quick striker who needs the odd ball played in front of him on the ground. The excellent Murphy looks knackered, unsurprisingly, after a season working wonders but so often feeding on scraps. But the team is not playing football, and we make most of our opponents look more imaginative. The hoof ball would have Bobby Robson in tears. And, sorry, but to put it at its kindest Mings has been overplayed. I'd so love to see us nail it in the last two games, but even more I'd like to feel proud of our club for its football again.

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runaround added 16:06 - Apr 18 Would have settled for a point before kick off that's for certain! It was nervous to watch & I don't think we did well with the ball at all but defended doggedly as always & kept Wolves at arms length for the most part. It's still in our hands & all to play for
3

purplealien added 16:09 - Apr 18 I think that turned out just as Mick intended it to. Football Manager says "we're going for the win" before the game, then sets up for the point. Well I'm shocked frankly! Next you'll be telling me I can't trust political partys' manifestos ;-)
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 16:49 - Apr 18 A point on paper at least is a good return. Ok it may have been a scrappy game and nerves may have played a part for both sides with so much at stake but we got what we came for. Keeps the opposition behind us and we remain on course for finally being part of a top six finish after so many years away. Forest at home and Blackburn on the last day represents a very good opportunity to do it so please let's not make a mess of it at this late stage. It's all in our own hands now. Just want to confirm the top six finish and take the potential next three games after that when the times comes. Our record in the play-offs is poor to say the least but let's rectify that unwanted statistic this time and be a premier league team next season.

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oldegold added 17:15 - Apr 18 If this was McCarthy's idea of going for a win then he clearly believes we have a Norwich intellengence quotient. We did not muster one real attack in the first half and as usual, we could now be revelling in having secured a play off place but his catenaccio riddled soccer has to prevail and this means we have to do the biz next Saturday against Forest. Very modest performance with a mediocre game plan set out by our manager once again.If we were to be promoted, and i say if, with a strategy like that, we would be blasted 0-5 every week...

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essexbluey added 17:16 - Apr 18 Just stopped for a coffee on my way back from the game. I think a good win next week should do us. Any team can go up in the playoffs so lets fill the ground next week and blow the roofs off the stands with noise. Glad i got my early bird because if we do go up a season ticket will go up by £200.
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bostonusablue added 18:01 - Apr 18 How can any Town fan on here be happy? I mean truly happy. Yes we are in the top 6 but our football is awful. Midfield is completely passed over by consistent hoofing. It's awful to watch. Why is Tabb in the team? He's dire. He runs around, but I can run around so I can get a start? He offers nothing and I don't think I've seen him pass to another Town player. It's a miracle we are where we are. There's little point making the play offs if you lose, and on current form I don't see us getting past any of the teams we could potentially play.

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