Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a dramatic victory over Crawley Town at Molineux this evening.
Kenney Jackett's side go top of League One after last-minute penalty earned them a 2-1 win.
Crawley will be wondering how they managed to come away from the game with nothing, having had several good chances of their own, before equalising in the 90th minute.
See how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Hello and thanks for joining me for this intriguing League One match-up.
Without further ado, let's get some team news.
Wolves: Ikeme; Doherty, Stearman, Batth, Ricketts; Sako, Davis, Evans, Sigurdarson; Ismail, Doyle
Crawley: P Jones; Sadler, McFadzean, Walsh, Drury; Simpson, Bulman, Adams, M Jones; Clarke, Alexander
So, Crawley make a couple of changes, with Gary Alexander coming in up front and Dannie Bulman brought in to toughen up the midfield.
Wolves also make the one change, with Bjorn Sigurdarson earning a starting place after his appearance from the bench last week. New signing Kevin McDonald will have to remain patient with a place on the bench.
I'm looking forward to tonight's game and we could be in for some goals. Crawley have scored seven goals in their three games so far this season, but they have also conceded seven, managing a 3-3 draw with Tranmere Rovers in the process.
Wolves have also found the net regularly so far. After a goalless draw on the opening day, a 4-0 win over Gillingham preceded an away victory at Bristol Rovers. The difference with Wanderers though, is that they are a lot more solid at the back.
The danger man for the home side is without doubt Bakary Sako. The Frenchman adds the star quality to this Wolves side and has managed two goals already this season. They've also got Kevin Doyle, who is a proven goalscorer as high up as the Premier League, while Leigh Griffiths is available from the bench should they struggle to break the deadlock.
The majority of Crawley's goals this season have come from a rather unlikely source. Defender Joe Walsh is the team's top scorer with three goals in as many games!
As I said earlier, I do expect goals tonight, particularly if the away side can get the opener. That would force Wolves to put the emphasis on attack, allowing gaps for both sides on the counter attack.
The favourites are Wolves though, and rightly so in my opinion. They're recently relegated and managed to keep the majority of their key players. On top of that, they seemed to have adapted to life in League One pretty quickly, as back-to-back wins suggests.
Crawley are always dangerous opposition at this level though, and have provided excellent entertainment in their three games so far this season. Let's hope that continues this evening.
As Richie Baker pointed out in his press conference yesterday, these sides were separated by several divisions just five years ago. He wants the fans to enjoy the occasion, and enjoy the fact that Crawley are facing Wolves.
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett to Sky Sports: "We've performed well in the three games so far, we're pleased. The start of the season is 10 games, by that stage we can see exactly where we are, and what we need to do. A win tonight would be fantastic, in front of the cameras, it would be a good statement."
Just five minutes to go until kick off now, and the atmosphere is building at Molineux.
Crawley get the match underway...
Wolves defend an early corner from the visitors but the pressure is still on with a throw-in. Simpson delivers the ball but there is no one in the box and Wolves get the ball away.
Doyle wins a throw for Wolves deep in the opposition half but they waste possession, before reclaiming it in defence and finding Sako on the left, but he is crowded out.
SAVE! Davis sprays the ball wide to Doherty who lays the ball back to Evans. His delivery finds Sigurdarson in the middle, but his scuffed effort is tipped wide by the goalkeeper!
GOAL! Wolves 1-0 Crawley (Sigurdarson)
Sigurdarson finds space midway in the Crawley half and plays the ball wide to Doyle, who beats his man on the left and centres the ball to where Sigurdarson is able to meet the cross and head in at the far post. Nice move from Wolves.
CHANCE! Crawley almost level immediately. Adams is found in free in the middle of the box, but scuffs his effort harmlessly wide!
Great skill from Sako on the left, beating Simpson with ease and crossing low and hard across the box, but unfortunately for Wolves no one is on hand to apply the finish and the defence clear.
Some more superb skill, this time from Ismail on the right, but again Wolves have no one in the box on hand to double their lead, Crawley clear for a corner and clear the ball from Sako's delivery.
Ismail robs Jones in the middle of the park and breaks forward, but loses possession on the edge of the box with options left and right. Wolves regain the ball with Doyle on the left, who whips the ball into the box, where Sako heads not far wide.
Lovely play between Doyle and Sigurdarson on the edge of the box, as the former scoops the ball over the defence but the Icelandic midfielder is half a yard offside. Wolves are rampant at the moment!
Crawley with a spell of possession in midfield through Adams and Jones. They eventually work it right back to Adams, whose cross is cleared.
Wolves now with a spell of their own, keeping the ball well in defence before Davis sprays it wide the Sako. They're forced back but Davis again finds a clever through ball, only for Doyle to misplace his flicked pass.
Nice play on the left from Crawley with Drury and Sadler, sees the ball played inside the Alexander but his snap shot is deflected wide. Wolves clear the first delivery but the second one finds its way to Walsh, who somehow misses the target from eight yards out!
Wolves have dominated possession in this game, but Crawley have had their fair share of good chances and in all honesty, should be level.
Adams collects Alexander's knock-down and beats Davis and Batth, before Stearman finally stops him just inside the box and clears the ball.
Sako plays a clever one-two with Evans on the left and finds an excellent cross, which unfortunately, is just too far ahead of both Doyle and Ismail.
Adams is starting to find more space and make things happen for the visitors. He finds Clarke with a clever through ball, but the forward's cross is weak and is easily collected by the goalkeeper.
SAVE! Adams again finds space, drifting into the middle and firing at goal with his left foot, but his effort is matched by a good save from Ikeme.
A good move on the right from Crawley sees Simpson deliver to the far post where Sadler collects and fires the ball across goal, but Batth is on hand to block the cross. Crawley are starting to put more and more pressure on Wolves now.
Great play from Crawley again as Adams finds Simpson, whose cross towards Alexander is cleared, as is the rebound which almost falls to Clarke.
Wolves earn themselves a breather with some nice possession in midfield through Davis, Sako and Evans. They eventually work it wide to Ricketts, whose cross finds Sako, but the midfielder can not get himself set for a shot and his scuffed effort is cleared!
Evans switches the ball left to Ismail, who jinks past Simpson and fires across goal. His cross is deflected behind from under his own crossbar by McFadzean and Crawley clear the resulting corner.
HALF TIME: Wolves 1-0 Crawley
Jones ends a late break from Doyle after Crawley again had Wolves under pressure on the right.
That was a half of two halves, if I can alter the traditional cliche. Wolves scored early on and looked like they might get two or three more, but Crawley came back strongly and will be disappointed not to be level at least.
Adams in particular, has started to pull the strings for the visitors, while the likes of Doyle and Sako have yet to find their best football. Ismail has been lively for Wolves and I'm sure they will be looking to get the talented youngster on the ball as much as possible in the second half.
I imagine that Wolves will come out strongly in the second half after fading in that first 45 minutes. A repeat of the first period, with an early goal for the hosts, could put the game out of reach for Crawley.
Will the away side live to regret those missed chances? Personally, I can see them scoring in the second half. Whether they can get anything from the game depends on how Wolves play in the first 15 minutes of this second period.
Wolves start the second half...
SAVE! Crawley start the second half as they ended the first, with Adams causing problems. This time he comes off the right and fires a left-footed effort at goal, but Ikeme tips it just wide!
Wolves clear the corner but lose the ball and Crawley win a free-kick near the corner flag. Batth defends well at the near post though and Wolves break.
Davis breaks from midfield and delivers the ball towards Sigurdarson but Jones clears. The ball finds its way back to Ricketts, whose long-range effort is tipped over by the goalkeeper.
Crawley dominating early in this second half. They work the ball well to Clarke on the edge of the box, but his shot is easily saved by Ikeme.
Doyle robs the ball from the Crawley midfield but plays a bad pass to Sako. The wide man manages to rescue possession but sees his cross put behind for a corner...
The referee spots a foul and gives Crawley a free kick to relieve the pressure.
The game has become a bit scrappy now, with neither side able to put two passes together. Sigurdarson manages to break on the left but a great challenge from Simpson stops him just inside the box.
Stearman tries to dribble out of defence but loses out to Simpson. His cross finds Alexander at the back post but his header is claimed by Ikeme. At the other end Davis breaks and finds Sigurdarson free inside the box, but the midfielder can't quite get on the end of the cross. End-to-end now!
YELLOW CARD! Davis wins the ball in midfield and feeds Doyle, who is brought down by Alexander on the edge of the box, earning a yellow card for the Crawley forward.
SAVE! Superb effort from the free kick by Sako, but Jones reads it and scampers across his goal to tip the ball wide.
Another lull in the game as both sides fail to create any real chances, before a break in play due to an injury to Joe Walsh.
SUBSTITUTION: Mark Connolly replaces Walsh, who can not continue.
Adams and Alexander link up well but the latter's shot is high and wide, not for the first time.
SUBSTITUTION: Wolves bring on Leigh Griffiths and Kevin McDonald for Sigurdarson and Evans respectively, as they look to liven up their second-half performance.
Adams wins a free kick on the left, which allows Drury to deliver but Doherty heads away well. Crawley work the resulting corner back to Jones, whose effort is struck inches wide of the post!
Crawley win another corner after Wolves fail to deal with a long ball. Drury delivers again but Wolves clear the ball, only as far as McFadzean though, who flicks the ball to Alexander and fires the return off Batth for another corner.
Wolves fail to properly clear again and Adams wins a free kick on the edge of the box. Sadler delivers to ball but it is a poor cross and Wolves can break.
YELLOW CARD! Drury receives a booking for pulling back Ismail on the break.
SUBSTITUTION: Luke Rooney and Jamie Proctor replace Drury and Bulman for Crawley, who are going for this now.
YELLOW CARD! Doyle is booked for a late challenge on Jones, it is not the Wolves' forward's first bad tackle.
Crawley almost find an equaliser after a good move on the right. Clarke delivers to the far post but Batth heads the ball out for a corner. Wolves deal the first delivery and attempt to break forward but the visitors win the ball again, and win another corner.
Adams delivers the ball but it somehow misses everyone before Davis clears the ball. Crawley regain possession though and come again...
Proctor wins a throw on the left but again Wolves deal with the pressure and win a free kick.
Crawley have got Wolves pinned back now as the hosts look to see this game out. Rooney finds Connolly in the box but the defender's touch is poor and the home side clear the ball.
Ismail almost seals the win, picking up the ball on the left and dancing past Sadler with his excellent skills, but his shot goes just over the bar.
Ismail breaks again but cuts inside and is tackled by Connolly. The ball finds itself to Sako though, who smashes his shot into the ground and just wide of the post!
GOAL! Wolves 1-1 Crawley (Clarke)
What a goal! Crawley put together the best move of the match in the final minutes to get the equaliser that they probably deserve. They play the ball out from defence on the right before Simpson finds Alexander, who dummies it to Adams. He cuts inside and finds Proctor, who lays the ball back first time for Clarke to smash in off the post!
PENALTY! Wolves earn themselves a last-minute penalty. McDonald breaks into the area and sees his cross blocked by McFadzean's arm. The assistant flags and Wolves have the chance to snatch three points back...
GOAL! Wolves 2-1 Crawley (Griffiths)
Heartbreak for Crawley as they concede a stoppage-time penalty, moments after getting their late equaliser. Griffiths went for power from the spot, and Jones may even have saved the ball, but it went under him and Wolves fans go mental.
FULL TIME: Wolves 2-1 Crawley
Wow! Well after catching my breath back after that finish, it is hard to analyse whether that was a fair result.
Several Crawley players are questioning the referee at the final whistle, but you have to say that the penalty decision was probably a correct one.
It is a tough one to take for the visitors, who deserved a point from this game. Ultimately they paid the price for missing too many chances in the first half.
It is Wolves who take all three points tonight though, and they go top of the league. Thanks for joining me, and I hope you enjoyed the match.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
