Liam Feeney struck the post, Brett Pitman saw an effort cleared off the line and forced Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme into a superb second-half save but Town’s game at Molineux ended 0-0.

Town boss Mick McCarthy made two changes to the team which lost 1-0 at home to Rotherham a month ago with Feeney handed his first start and Ben Pringle returning to the team.

Luke Hyam dropped to the bench, while Daryl Murphy, who suffered a calf injury while away with the Republic of Ireland, remained behind in Suffolk. David McGoldrick was named amongst the subs for the first time since early December.

Teddy Bishop, yet to play a senior game this season, made the trip but wasn’t included in the matchday squad.

Feeney, a half-time sub against the Millers, started in a front three on the right of Pitman with Freddie Sears on the left. Pringle lined-up ahead of Cole Skuse and Jonathan Douglas in a central midfield three. Wolves similarly started in a 4-3-3 system.

The home side were first to threaten in the fifth minute after a mix-up between Douglas and Sears on halfway. Eventually, Conor Coady sent over a cross from the left but Bartosz Bialkowski got there ahead of George Saville and punched clear.

But the Blues had largely had the better of the opening minutes, with Feeney making a lively start, albeit without being able to create an opening.

On 11 Pringle crossed to Jonas Knudsen at the far post, but his knockdown just evaded Sears. Moments later, a Feeney cross from the right was half-cleared to the Dane but he scuffed his shot wide.

Feeney came within an inch or so of claiming his first goal for the Blues in the 18th minute when Pringle’s corner from the left was returned to the on-loan Fulham man. He played it inside to Feeney, who unleashed a powerful low strike which slammed against the outside of Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme’s right post and cannoned behind.

After Chambers had blocked from Jeremy Helan as he looked to cross from the Wolves left, Sears forced Ikeme to save his low shot having brought the ball inside from the left after being fed by Pitman.

There was a scare for the Blues on 24 when Bialkowski failed to claim Matt Doherty’s freekick from deep on the left. The loose ball fell to Wolves skipper Danny Batth but he was unable to get a clear sight of goal before the keeper regained his ground and the danger was cleared.

The home side were now starting to get on top and were looking the more threatening team and on 28 Helan crossed from the left and Knudsen was forced to nod behind at the far post with Bjorn Sigurdarson behind him. From the resultant corner, Batth escaped his man but was just unable to get his head on the ball.

On 34 Kortney Hause blocked from Feeney as he tried to turn a Knudsen cross towards goal, the on-loan Bolton man and Sears having swapped flanks.

Town should have gone in front in the 42nd minute when Hause allowed Pitman to steal the ball from him on the touchline on the right, not the first time the centre-half had been forced into a mistake by the Town striker.

Pitman brought the ball inside and tried to lift it over Ikeme from a very tight angle but the keeper looked to get enough on it to allow Hause to get back and clear off the line. Pitman held his head in his hands, knowing a better option was to have cut the ball across to Feeney on the edge of the six-yard box.

Town will have gone in at the break feeling they ought to have been in front, Feeney having hit the post and Pitman having created but then spurned the late opportunity.

The Blues had started strongly but without creating an opportunity until Feeney’s shot against the post. Wolves had a spell on top midway through the half, but Town had ended the period looking the more threatening side.

Wolves switched James Henry for Sigurdarson on the right of their front three ahead of the second half.

The Blues created the first opportunity after the restart, but Knudsen horribly shinned Sears’s cutback from the right well wide.

On 50 Feeney almost played in Pringle on the left but Henry got back to dispossess the midfielder, then three minutes later Sears shot not too far over from distance but with Pitman in space on the left of the area feeling the ex-Colchester man ought to have passed.

A minute later, Wolves created their first chance of the half, but Saville eventually scraped wide having initially appeared hesitant to shoot.

On 57 Henry escaped the attentions of Knudsen as the former Esbjerg man slipped but shot well over. Soon after Helan was replaced by Joe Mason as the home side switched to 4-4-2.

But Town continued to look the more dangerous side, Ikeme grabbing a low Feeney cross from the right, then on 66 the Nigerian international made the save of the game from Pitman.

Feeney whipped another ball over from the right, the Blues’ striker flicked a header at the near post and the keeper did superbly to get a hand down to his left to save.

In the 68th minute the Blues made a double change with Pringle and Pitman making way for Luke Varney and Kevin Bru, while Wolves switched Michal Zyro for Adam Le Fondre.

The Blues continued to look the most likely scorers with Skuse seeing a strike blocked, Varney heading another Feeney cross over, then both the Bolton loanee and sub Bru shooting straight at Wolves defenders.

The home side, whose fans had been berating them moments earlier for being “boring”, conjured a rare opportunity on 74 when Henry played in Doherty, but Bialkowski saved with his feet and Saville shot wide from the rebound.

With 12 minutes remaining, ex-Wolves defender Christophe Berra headed wide from Bru’s corner.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes Bru won the ball midway inside the Wolves half as the home side broke following a Knudsen long throw. The Mauritius international exchanged passes with Sears before hitting a shot which looked to be going just wide before Ikeme palmed it out for a corner.

Berra wasn’t too far away from a goal against his old club on 82 when he headed a Bru corner towards goal only for Henry to clear.

Wolves began to have more of the ball in the final five minutes, Henry crossing towards Saville at the far post but the midfielder was unable to turn the ball goalwards. Soon after, Smith did well to get ahead of Henry as he broke into the area.

McGoldrick made his long-awaited return in the 87th minute as a sub for the tiring Feeney, then as the fourth official indicated four additional minutes Bialkowski rushed off his line to clear ahead of Le Fondre.

Deep in injury time, a Wolves corner from the right fell to Doherty but Chambers made a superb block. The ball was sent back into the area but it was headed wide. Soon after, referee Rob Lewis blew his final whistle to confirm the goalless draw.

Town will feel they probably had had enough chances to have won the game with Pitman’s opportunity before the break perhaps the best, while Ikeme did superbly to save the former Bournemouth man’s second-half header. At the other end, Bialkowski was really only forced into one serious stop from Doherty.

Overall, the performance was a great improvement on the Rotherham display and one which should have yielded all three points.

The Blues remain in eighth but now five points plus goal difference behind Derby, who drop to sixth following their 2-1 defeat at Cardiff, now seventh three points ahead of Town. Sheffield Wednesday won 1-0 at Huddersfield and are up to fifth, six points ahead of the Blues.

Town are next in action at home to Charlton, who beat Birmingham 2-1 today, on Tuesday evening.

Wolves: Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth (c), Hause, Doherty, Coady, Price, Saville, Sigurdarson (Henry 46), Zyro (Le Fondre 68), Helan (Mason 58). Unused: Martinez, Deslandes, McDonald, Hunte.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Pringle (Bru 68), Feeney ( McGoldrick 87), Sears, Pitman (Varney 68). Unused: Gerken, Foley, Digby, Hyam. Referee: Rob Lewis (Shrewsbury). Att: 20,225 (Town: 1,154).

Photo: Action Images

Dissboyitfc added 20:22 - Apr 2 Thebeat...quality post again, the points you make are very relevant and so close to the truth, well said!
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 20:46 - Apr 2 You talk sense thebeat! We shouldn't keep a manager because some of you are scared as to what might happen. Think West Ham fans were scared of sacking Big Sam (a manager who'd have them a mediocre mid table team (sound familiar?)) and look where they are now under a relatively inexperienced Billic? I bet all you who are 'scared' of getting rid of Mick have been in the same mundane, average paid job because you've been too scared to take an opportunity for fear of the unknown or the unsafe. If you're happy to pay extortionate and, quite frankly, disgusting prices to watch the worst football in the whole football league; then be our guests. I fear you'll be doing it in a 30,000 seat stadium that's maybe 2/5 full at the most.

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Tractorboy1985 added 20:48 - Apr 2 Sorry dissboy.. His fortune only went from 65 million to 700 in 18 months.. And that's after he gave 2 muppets 20 million! I'm pretty knowledgeable my friend 😝
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Tractorboy1985 added 20:49 - Apr 2 Bilic has been given money!
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 20:59 - Apr 2 So had Big Sam, tractorboy1985. My point remains, if West Ham were too scared to get rid of SA, then they'd never have moved forward.
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 20:59 - Apr 2 Should have won this by a country mile. Mick is TOTALLY to blame.Wolves were awful and there for the taking, but although we played quite well at times, our play in the final 3rd was poor. Our shape was poor, we had no width and lined up 4-3-3 to match Wolves, when 4-4-2 with Feeney and Pringle wide would have given us much more creativity.We were very narrow at times and thus little service. Very disappointed that Pringle and Feeney were not hogging the wings. Really disappointed when Pringle was subbed, he and Sears, as usual were our only creative players. Douglas was poor again and although Skews had a better game compared to recent games, he was treading water as well at times. The back 4 were solid, but had very little to do. We badly missed Murphy today. Pitman was useless at holding the ball and didn't really do much else, apart from a good header that bought a good save from Ikeme. This was a perfect opportunity to put some pressure on Birmingham and Sheff Weds, but complete lack of direction, conviction and guile left us thinking what might have been, again.

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thebeat added 20:59 - Apr 2 Tractorboy1985 players dont hoof the ball 50 yards because they were free transfers. They can pass the ball short, they are coached not to.
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Dissboyitfc added 21:07 - Apr 2 Tractorboy i dont doubt your knowledge for a second just your maths and your understanding of the word Billionaire, Having assets of 700 million does not make a billionaire, google the definition of billionaire and i think you will find he is not a Billionaire.
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surgery added 21:13 - Apr 2 ReShroshireBlue Of coursse Pitman is useless Why do you think he ended up here like the rest of the s..t on free's?
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bluey123 added 21:20 - Apr 2 Although I despise ME in the way he is running the club McCarthy has found the load of garbage we have had at the club and currently have. He picks the side he gives the players the tactics and makes the substitutions so he is to blame and only him . I wrote to the club and received a reply saying the club were happy with its current position and the direction it was going and would only be judged at the end of the season. I only wish would let me know what direction it is . McCarthy must go

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Tractorboy1985 added 21:23 - Apr 2 Yes @thebeat we play a 'direct style of play' which to be honest I'm not happy with.. But would u really be confident about chambers or Knudsen bringing the ball out from the back? the best thing what can sum that up would be 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈.. I am not trying to big mick up too much because he does have his faults and I want to see more of an attacking approach I just feel we have all been lied to by Milne about cash being available after speaking to mick recently and he and Evans should take more responsibility! Let's be fair we all love this club and want the best but I want to see a chairman like Steve Gibson who 'cares' about us fans!! What a gentleman David sheepshanks by the way Wednesday! What I would do to ave someone like him back! Tears in his eyes when we were promoted like us fans./ I shouldn't think Evans would blink an eye lid!

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Tractorboy1985 added 21:29 - Apr 2 So dissboy if u were 700 million in the black would u give MM (our most successful manager since BFJ) (not as good mind u) a measly 500 grand and pocket change for freebies? U know my point my friend
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Dissboyitfc added 21:37 - Apr 2 Tractorbuy... i see your point and i agree with the essence of the point you make. i just made the point that by definition he is not a billionaire.
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thebeat added 21:38 - Apr 2 Tractorboy1985 you are missing the point, there have been better players available on a free or cheap but Mick has chosen to bring garbage in instead. Garbage like Douglas who is the 1st player on the team sheet every week despite being our worst player every single week. It defies explanation how he keeps picking him. And nobody can tell me in 3 years there hasnt been a better rightback out there available on a free or cheap than Chambers. He has chosen not to look because he doesnt want to be a proper manager and pick 2 from 3 centre halves for fear of upsetting one of his boys. Its pathetic

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Tractorboy1985 added 21:58 - Apr 2 @thebeat I 80% agree with your points.. Douglas is truly garbage.. I stated this after he played 6 games and got cained! When I saw Hyam at palace under the dark lord I thought there is a defensive midfield player who can play for us for many a year! My midfield would be Hyam and bru.. Bish when fit! Or foley and bish.. But he hasn't been around all season and I feel he's played it safe by players who he thinks he can trust! He has his favourites does mick.. Even after talking to Him for a short period of time I could tell he is a stubborn ol git! He likes 'the same' which annoys me because how many of our players have played this season not one should be undroppable! But u have to agree the main problem lies with Evans and his ability to open up his cheque book??

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thebeat added 22:25 - Apr 2 Yes Tractorboy i agree about Evans but Royle had no money and we played cavalier football under him. Lack of funds is NO excuse for the Ale house horse crap we have been forced to watch the last couple of years. Its Anti-football and Mick is solely responsible for that. His day has passed, no longer can you win promotion through bludgeoning the opposition to death, you have to have some creativity in your team. 3 years and 5 months into his tenure and still we have no creativity in the side, i just cant accept that, that alone is reason for dismissal in my eyes.

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Geoff added 22:35 - Apr 2 The football and tactics get worse where are the new blood from our academy its the same old. Agree it is time to go Mick with the most on here.
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essex57 added 22:43 - Apr 2 Geoff please dont think that the inane rubbish posted on the news Site is representative of the thoughts of the majority
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thebeat added 22:55 - Apr 2 ⬆⬆⬆ 🔔🔚 ⬆⬆⬆
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Tractorboy1985 added 22:58 - Apr 2 Bishop is our creativity!! As sad as it sounds we rely on a kid to pass the ball and make us tick! Cast your mind back to boro at home last season.. I quote karanka 'he is the best young player I've seen for a long while' ripped them to pieces! Clubs like ours struggle when we suffer with long term injuries.. U put bishop Fraser and mcgoldrick in the starting 11 which he would if all fit we would see more attractive football! We don't have the money (or our owner is milking the club blind) to replace these players!

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thebeat added 23:07 - Apr 2 Thats a weak excuse. Plenty of forward thinking central midfielders out there, Mick simply doesnt want to play that way. Hes s coward, simple as, defend for your life and try and nick it is his philosophy. Stuck in the past.
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essex57 added 23:07 - Apr 2 More rubbish how can a man who pumps 5million a year into the club ontop of the 100 million JM RK AND PJ threw down the drain milking the club
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Tractorboy1985 added 23:16 - Apr 2 Tax dodge and got his name splashed everywhere for thee Olympics Essex57.. He's now lost interest! Who the f**k has a 'mystery' chairman?? It's all boll ocks! The club has been on a downhill spiral for 15 years! U either turn up and support the club whatever it is.. Or stay at home! Unless u have enough money to buy Evans out!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 23:46 - Apr 2 Essex57. with all due respect, if these players are handsomely paid the kind of money most of us can only dream about, surely they should have the ability to pass the spherical object instead of hoofing the damn thing. I suspect our highly paid manager & assistant don,t advocate such things on the training pitch. Time to recruit a coach who will play with some freedom & allow said well paid players to be able to express themselves in a more expansive manner. I,ve been drinking by the way as I,m slowly losing the will to see any positives at our once great club.

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essex57 added 07:54 - Apr 3 Pinewood dont lose the belief theres always next season or the year after lets be honest weve been very average for the past 15 seasons but still keep turning up. If you read the post by tractorboy85 on mick going to villa it explains alot.
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