Stoke plunges Wolves closer to drop with 2-1 win

Published Apr. 7, 2012 8:20 p.m. EDT

foxsports

Stoke striker Peter Crouch delivered a timely reminder of his goal-scoring credentials while plunging bottom-place Wolverhampton Wanderers closer to relegation by clinching a 2-1 victory in the English Premier League.

Crouch sent a looping header over goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey in the 61st minute after latching onto Jermaine Pennant's free kick.

Crouch's tally for the season has now reached 13 goals, boosting his hopes of a return to the England team he last played for in November 2010 with the European Championship starting in two months.

Crouch's former manager at Tottenham, Harry Redknapp, is the leading contender for the vacant England manager's job.

''I'd definitely take Peter to the Euros because he's a game changer and I don't think foreign sides like playing against Peter. We found that in Europe,'' Stoke manager Tony Pulis said. ''He gives you that aerial presence. Whoever is picking the team, and we don't know who that is yet, but Peter is a game changer and you need them in your side.''

Michael Kightly put Wolves in front in the 26th, but Robert Huth drove home an equalizer before halftime.

Stoke is safely in mid-table in 11th, but with six matches remaining, Wolves are six points adrift of Wigan and Blackburn, who occupy the other two drop zone places.

It was a sixth straight loss for Wolves, who have collected just one point since Terry Connor took over from Mick McCarthy in February.

But Connor believes his side have shown enough to believe they can still avoid the drop.

''It's hard to take - I thought we played really well and deserved to take something from the game,'' Connor said. ''We've done well in the last three games. We've taken the lead three times and not been able to see it through.

''With all the preparation we do it's hard not to see it through. If we are successful it will be on the back of things we did in the past three games. If we don't we're not good enough.''