Town put in a battling display to come from behind and grab a point against Wolves at Molineux. Paul Ince put the home side ahead just after the break before substitute Richard Naylor headed in a late equaliser.

Fabian Wilnis, Matt Richards and Darren Ambrose all overcame knocks to take their places in a starting eleven unchanged from Sunday's victory at Carrow Road.

The first serious action of the game saw Town's Tommy Miller pick up a yellow card for a foul on Lee Naylor.

Chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges and the closest Town went to threatening Matt Murray's goal was a Fabian Wilnis shot from a tight angle which went into the sidenetting.

Wolves were having the better of the possession with Town finding it hard going up front with Darren Ambrose playing alongside Darren Bent.

On 24 Mark Kennedy sent the ball dangerously across the face of the Town goal and a minute or so later Shaun Newton should have tested Andy Marshall more with a header from Kennedy's left-wing cross.

Just after the half hour Marshall did well to grab a low Newton cross from the right with Kenny Miller closing in behind him.

Miller, the current man of the moment at Molineux, was to be at the centre of controversy not long after as he and Thomas Gaardsøe clashed on the edge of the Town area as they raced to a long through ball. The two certainly made contact but whether or not this was enough to cause Miller to crash to the floor in quite the manner he did was open to debate.

Either way, the referee was unimpressed and Gaardsøe was booed by the home fans for his next few touches due to that incident and an earlier challenge on Nathan Blake where he had won the ball but left the Welshman on the deck.

Town had failed to test Murray at all in the Wolves goal while Andy Marshall had hardly been at his busiest. With five minutes left of the half Colin Cameron hit a 20-yard shot which the Town keeper saved to his right.

The best chance of the first half fell to Mark Kennedy a minute later. The Town defence was found wanting as the former Manchester City man found himself in the clear on the left. Marshall stood up well and the Irishman blasted the ball well over the bar.

The Blues had been lacking up front throughout the half despite a largely decent defensive performance. It was no surprise that Joe Royle brought on an attacker at the break, Dean Bowditch coming on for his second senior appearance and Jim Magilton sitting out.

Town had hardly settled into a pattern than they were behind. Paul Ince was left unmarked on the edge of the area and volleyed Newton's cross to Marshall's left, the bounce of the ball appearing to beat the keeper.

Immediately after the goal Wolves started to put the pressure on and Mark Kennedy sent in a 20 yard shot which Andy Marshall saved.

At the other end Town were still finding it difficult to create clear cut chances, however, Darren Bent had hit a shot over not long after Ince's goal and just after the hour Matt Holland hit a 25 yard show which brought the first real save out of Murray.

As the half wore on Town looked more and more dangerous and Darren Ambrose almost carved out an opportunity with a mazy run through a number of defenders. He made his way to the byline but his cross was caught by Murray.

Dangerous balls flew across both areas but neither side could get that important touch with both goalkeepers handling well.

There was further controversy in the 73rd minute when Thomas Gaardsøe, Paul Ince and a number of other players were involved in a clash not far outside the centre circle. Gaardsøe was booked for his tackle while Ince, who had appeared to come in with his fists raised, received nothing but a stiff talking to from the referee.

Not long after Darren Bent went close to putting Town back on terms with a flicked header which flew just past Murray's post.

Joe Royle pushed on for an equaliser bringing on first Martijn Reuser for Ambrose and then Richard Naylor for Fabian Wilnis. On 84, about a minute after coming on, Naylor got Town back on terms.

Dean Bowditch had been fouled five yards outside the Wolves box on the Town right. Martijn Reuser took the kick and sent a ball to the far post where Naylor rose to head powerfully back past Murray into the corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

There were scares for both sides in the closing stages, Matt Holland doing well to get back to clear a ball over the top while a number of Town players narrowly failed to get enough space for a shot as the Wolves defence failed to clear.

As the injury time ran down Bowditch was again fouled on the edge of the area by Butler. Reuser took the kick, his skidding effort beating the wall but not Murray. A Wolves defender was on to the loose ball quickest and the chance had gone. Seconds later the whistle went.

A good point dug out by Town, particularly in the light of the current injury and suspension situation. Impressive performances particularly at the back, particularly from Holland while Matt Richards again looked beyond his years.

In the first half the Blues did seem hampered by the lack of a true striker alongside Darren Bent. However, once they were on in the second half both Bowditch and Naylor gave the home defence some problems, the latter naturally pleased with his goal.

Four points from two tricky away games is a good haul, now to get three points from the visit of Stoke on Saturday.

Photo: Action Images

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