Wolves 0-0 Blackburn

Andy Sinton winces after a tackle from David Dunn

Blackburn's march back towards the Premiership was interrupted by a magnificent performance by Wolves keeper Michael Oakes at Molineux.

In a stormy game littered by yellow cards, the former Aston Villa keeper produced seven diving saves in the second half to break the hearts of Graeme Souness' men.

Wolves had the better of the first half and might well have been in front at the break but would certainly have been swept aside had it not been for the agility and reflexes of their last line of defence.

Almost from the restart after half-time, he got to work against a Rovers side bearing a more attacking edge after Eyal Berkovic had gone on for the limping Stig Bjornebye.

The Israeli linked up with Marcus Bent to tee up a curling 25-yarder for David Dunn, who was denied by the keeper's full-length dive and tip-round to his left.

Grateful

From the resulting corner, Matt Jansen's header was superbly pushed over, then skipper Gary Flitcroft was left in a state of disbelief when Oakes magnificently kept out his near-post effort to a corner by Craig Hignett.

Blackburn continued to lay siege to Wolves' goal up to the hour mark and Bent and Jansen again were frustrated by sprawling saves with Blackburn sensing another victory.

It would not come, however, and Wolves dug in to ride their luck and emerge with a second successive 0-0 home draw.

They have now gone four matches at Molineux without scoring but were immensely grateful with a point this time, especially as the outstanding Dunn weaved his way through into a clear shooting position and brought another tremendous diving stop from the keeper in the dying stages.

Wolves barely threatened in the second half, although they produced an attacking flurry at the end and Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel had to make a routine save from Joleon Lescott.

It had all been different in the first half, when Rovers - with only one defeat in their previous 12 League games - were subdued and off-colour.

Wolves had a hungry look about them after a sequence of one point from 12 and George Ndah, having shot wide early on, hit the post with a close-range effort.

Temuri Ketsbaia was lively in his first start since November 4, and there were boos from the crowd when he was substituted on 54 minutes.

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