Wolves pulled three points clear of the drop zone after goals from
Nenad Milijas and Kevin Doyle secured a 2-0 win over Burnley at
Molineux.
Mick McCarthy went into Sunday's Premier League game under
huge pressure to get a result after he opted to rest 10 first-team
regulars at Old Trafford in midweek, and despite riding their luck
at times against the plucky Clarets, he will be delighted to see
his men collect all three points.
Wolves made a bright start and took a 16th-minute lead when
Milijas tapped into an unguarded net from 12 yards after Brian
Jensen had failed to hold Matt Jarvis' shot.
The Clarets were finding openings hard to come by and Kevin
McDonald wasted their best opportunity of the first period when he
dragged his shot wide of the far post after good work by Chris
Eagles.
The hard-working Doyle then had a great opportunity to double
Wolves' lead after he had beaten the offside trap to run on to a
chip over the Burnley defence from Milijas. But the Republic of
Ireland striker was foiled by Jensen who blocked his shot with his
outstretched right leg.
Burnley came out for the second half in a determined manner
but it was Wolves who doubled their lead on 50 minutes when Doyle
outmuscled Stephen Caldwell before turning inside Michael Duff and
firing past Jensen. The striker ripped off his shirt in celebration
and the Irishman picked up the obligatory yellow card for his
efforts.
The Clarets were unlucky not to register when Kevin Foley was
well placed to clear Caldwell's header off the line as Burnley
stepped up the pressure.
But Burnley were grateful to Jensen who pulled off a
fantastic save to push out Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's header from close
range, while the Dane was at it again moments later to deny the
Wolves frontman a second time.
Owen Coyle's side continued to press but there was no way
through as Wolves held on to the victory that lifts them above
Sunday's opponents on goal difference and up to 12th in the Premier
League table.
