Wolves 1-0 Sheff Utd

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Wolves moved back to within one point of the First Division summit with victory over 10-man Sheffield United at Molineux.

The Blades, unbeaten in their previous eight matches, were reduced to 10 men by the 24th-minute dismissal of Paul Devlin for a reckless challenge.

Dean Sturridge scored the vital goal for Wolves with a right-footed drive from almost 25 yards in first-half stoppage time.

Wolves, who had won only one of their previous six games, had taken time to make the extra man count.

Further chances

Colin Cameron toe-poked agonisingly wide after a fine run into the area while Alex Rae cut in from the left to power a low shot wide of the far post.

Wolves were well on top despite Devlin's well-saved early shot and they thoroughly deserved the lead.

Blades substitute Peter Ndlovu twice brought saves from Michael Oakes from outside the area before Nathan Blake headed narrowly wide from Mark Kennedy's corner at the other end.

Shaun Newton was then denied by Tracey from an angle from a one-on-one chance and Kennedy blazed wide of the far post from a similar opportunity.

Wolves should have been out of sight by the time substitute Cedric Roussel saw a volley blocked by Tracey and cleared from near the line by Robert Page.

It was only Wolves' second win in seven matches and was a vital response to their Boxing Day second-half collapse against Preston.

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Wolverhampton: Oakes, Muscat, Butler, Pollet, Camara, Newton, Cameron, Rae, Kennedy, Blake (Roussel 83), Sturridge. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Andrews, Miller, Murray.

Booked: Camara.

Sheff Utd: Tracey, Uhlenbeek, Page, Murphy, Nicholson, Ford, Santos, Tonge (Montgomery 77), Devlin, Suffo (Ndlovu 45), Asaba (D'Jaffo 77). Subs Not Used: Curle, de Vogt.

Sent Off: Devlin (26).

Booked: Devlin.

Att: 24,138.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).