Wolverhampton Wanderers have raced into a 3-0 lead against Gillingham at Molineaux, courtesy of goals from Leigh Griffiths, Lee Evans and Bakary Sako.

The hosts dominated the opening 45 minutes and went ahead as early as the fourth minute when Griffiths swiveled on the edge of the area before firing past Stuart Nelson in the Gillingham goal.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett watched his team nearly build on their lead minutes later, but Kevin Doyle saw his effort trickle narrowly wide.

The visitors struggled to assert themselves throughout the opening exchanges and it got worse for Martin Allen's men when Evans headed home a second on 24 minutes.

Zeli Ismail, who was handed a starting berth for the visit of the Gills, vindicated his manager's decision by playing a key role in the team's third six minutes later, passing across the face of goal for Sako to tap home from close range.

Sako and Griffiths both saw bids to add a fourth goal to the scoreline rebuffed the Gills keeper Nelson in the closing stages of the first half.