Millwall 1-0 Wolves

Claridge hampered his former club's promotion hopes

Millwall 1-0 Wolves

Wolves' hopes of an automatic promotion place were dented by old boy Steve Claridge, whose 73rd-minute penalty was enough to secure victory for the home side.

Defeat hands the initiative to bitter Black Country rivals West Brom, who are level on points with their neighbours but with a game in hand.

Dave Jones' side needed a victory to delay Manchester City's return to the Premiership but paid the price for a lack of hunger in front of goal.

Claridge's spotkick after he had been felled by Shaun Newton proved decisive and boosted Millwall's own play-off hopes in the process.

I think we did enough to get something from the game

Wolves manager
Dave Jones

Millwall made a bright start, creating two chances in the opening three minutes - one of which fell to Republic of Ireland international Steven Reid, who headed just wide.

On-loan striker Dion Dublin, who scored on his Millwall debut against Stockport last weekend, should have done better on 15 minutes but shot high and wide from Matthew Lawrence's cross.

All Wolves had to show for the first half hour was Kenny Miller's mis-hit shot from the edge of the area.

Reid caused problems for the Wolves defence just before the break but Wolves keeper Michael Oakes did well to keep out his powerful drive.

The visitors upped the tempo after the break and forced Tony Warner to race off his line and save from Colin Cameron.

On 58 minutes, Millwall's Paul Ifill looked to have won a penalty for his side when referee Tony Leake blew for a foul by Mohammed Camara.

I've missed two penalties this season but it's the important ones I score

Steve Claridge

But Leake's assistant indicated, wrongly, that the offence had taken place outside the area.

However, Millwall got their reward 17 minutes from time when Newton's leg ended Claridge's jinking run into the box .

The 36-year-old striker sent Oakes the wrong way from the spot.

Wolves could have snatched a point late on when Dean Sturridge's volley hit the post but they now know they have a real fight on their hands if they are to join Manchester City in the Premiership.

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Millwall: Warner, Lawrence, Nethercott, Ward, Bull, Ifill, Cahill, Livermore, Reid, Dublin, Claridge. Subs: Gueret, Sadlier, Tuttle, Kinet, Bircham.

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Halle, Butler, Lescott, Camara, Newton, Cameron, Rae, Cooper, Sturridge, Miller. Subs: Andrews, Ndah, Blake, Laursen, Murray.

Referee: A Leake (Darwen).