Town's eight-match unbeaten run came to an end as a Kenny Miller penalty won the points for the home side. The result was harsh on the Blues who had enjoyed the majority of the game, although rarely seriously troubling Wolves keeper Stefan Postma.

Richard Naylor continued in the Town attack in the absence of Alan Lee and thwarted loan signing of Ricardo Fuller. Dean McDonald was alongside Naylor in a 4-4-2 formation with Owen Garvan coming in for the injured Jimmy Juan in midfield.

The game started explosively with the home side almost scoring within seconds of the kick-off. Miller's shot was blocked, then Denes Rosa went wide when in a good position.

Sito sent a dangerous ball across the face of the Wolves goal in the third minute after making a good run down the right but no one was in position to add the final touch. On five, Westlake sent in a superb cross which McDonald couldn't reach.

Darren Anderton's sixth minute shot was well struck but straight at Supple, then Westlake's strike appeared to be left by Postma and the Dutch keeper was lucky to see it pass inches wide of his post.

The Blues were looking the better of the two sides but the chances were in the main falling to the home team. Wolves might have gone ahead in the 18th minute when a corner was cleared to Anderton whose strike was blocked, the ball dropping to Jody Craddock, but the former Sunderland defender lashed wildly wide when in a good position.

Miller once again shot wide, then Currie sent the ball just past the post from 25 yards. Dean McDonald slipped in Naylor in the 24th minute but the striker-turned-defender-turned-striker's shot was deflected wide.

Postma's biggest test came two minutes later, Scott Barron shooting from the edge of the area and the keeper failing to hold on. Fortunately for the Midlanders, a defender put the ball out ahead of the predatory McDonald and Westlake.

McDonald headed a Garvan cross wide, prior to Scott Barron picking up the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Tomasz Frankowski. From the freekick, Supple did well to save Miller's header.

Maurice Ross became the first Wolves player to get his name in the book on the half hour for a tackle from behind on Darren Currie which incensed Town assistant manager Willie Donachie.

Fabian Wilnis volleyed a Currie corner wide, before Sito got his name in referee Andy Woolmer's book for handball, although the Spaniard appeared to already have been shoved by Frankowski.

Supple tipped a Miller cross-shot over the bar in the 35th minute after Ian Westlake had been caught in possession on halfway. Four minutes later, Mark Davies was given a yellow card for a needless push on McDonald on the touchline. In the 43rd minute De Vos did well to block a Rosa shot inside the six-yard box.

Town could well have found themselves behind at half-time had the home side's finishing been less wayward. Despite this, the Blues had played the better football without carving out as many opportunities as their opponents.

Ian Westlake got the new half off to a good start with a 25-yard shot which Postma saved. Three minutes into the new period, Adam Proudlock replaced Scott Barron who appeared to be carrying a leg injury. The former Wolves man joined McDonald in the attack with Naylor moving back alongside De Vos with Wilnis going to left-back.

Town's best chance of the game came soon after, a ball from the left going between two defenders and Westlake turning it wide with a snapshot from eight yards.

McDonald might have sent Proudlock through on goal on 55 but held onto the ball for far too long before eventually releasing it behind his fellow frontman.

Currie shot over as the Blues started to dominate the game. Peters replaced McDonald as Currie joined Proudlock up front, the Canadian youngster going to right midfield.

Proudlock came close to opening his Town goals account with a shot on the turn from six yards which went over the bar after a cross from the left by Richards.

Town continued to put the pressure on and Richards saw his shot deflect off a defender and wide. From the resultant corner, Jason De Vos felt he was pushed but failed to impress the referee with his protest.

Davies shot wide for Wolves, ahead of Lee Naylor receiving a yellow card for a cynical foul on Peters after the Canadian had got away from him on the right.

The goal that would win the game came from Town's freekick. Currie's ball into the box was cleared, Wolves broke quickly and Sito failed to win the ball as sub Jeremie Aliadiere entered the penalty area and sent the loanee from Arsenal to the ground. Referee Woolmer had no doubt and awarded the spotkick, Miller stroking the ball down the centre of the goal and past Supple.

While Miller and his team-mates celebrated, Peters limped off with an injury sustained in Naylor's tackle, Jim Magilton replacing him.

On 76 Postma failed to claim a corner under pressure from Richard Naylor but the Blues couldn't get in a decent shot. Naylor had by now once again joined the attack.

Proudlock's shot from Richards's knockdown on the edge of the six-yard box was blocked and then Naylor saw a header tipped over the bar by Postma. De Vos headed over from the subsequent corner.

But Town weren't really looking like beating the Wolves keeper as the game entered injury time. Richards shot wide before Magilton showed his frustration with a foul as time ran out and received a yellow card.

A draw would probably have been a fair result with the Blues much the better side in the second half. Wolves created the better of the chances throughout with Town looking much as they did prior to the signing of Alan Lee; enjoying plenty of possession but failing to create too many clear-cut opportunities.

Lee is set to miss at least the next game, probably the next two, and an addition to the strike-force looks a must if the post-Christmas push for the play-offs is to be maintained over the next few weeks.

Town: Supple, Sito, Barron (Proudlock 48), Wilnis, De Vos, Garvan, Westlake, Richards, Currie, Naylor, McDonald (Peters 58 (Magilton 75)). Unused: Price, Skard.

Photo: Action Images

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