Wolverhampton Wanderers picked up a 2-0 victory over fellow promotion chasers Derby County this evening to climb level on points with the top six in the Championship table.
A goalless first half saw both sides take turns to dominate possession, but neither were able to make a breakthrough prior to the interval.
That changed soon after the restart, though, as Nouha Dicko fired a shot through a couple of bodies to give the hosts a lead to hold onto, before a goalkeeping error from Lee Grant sealed things for Wolves with a little over 20 minutes to play.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action in the West Midlands unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship meeting between promotion chasers Wolverhampton Wanderers and Derby County at Molineux.
The Rams were backed by many to finish inside the division's top two this season, although having failed to win any of their last five games things are beginning to look a little bleak. Wolves halted a three-game winless run of their own last time out, meanwhile, to remain on course to finish inside the playoff zone.
Kickoff in the West Midlands is now less than 30 minutes away, so let's get straight into things by taking a look at how these two teams line up...
TEAM NEWS!
WOLVES STARTING XI: Kuszczak, Doherty, Golbourne, Stearman, Batth, Henry, Sako, McDonald, Price, Afobe, Dicko
DERBY STARTING XI: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Albentosa, Forsyth, Hughes, Bryson, Russell, Ince, Lingard, Bent
Starting with the home team, then, and Kenny Jackett has opted to make just the single change to his starting lineup following his side's 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday last time out. James Henry is the man to be brought back into the fold in place of Rajiv van la Parra, who drops down to the bench.
Richard Stearman was a doubt heading into tonight's match having been stretchered off in that comfortable midweek win, although he has recovered in time to start from the off at Molineux. Dominic Iorfa is another defender to have shaken off injury, although he has to settle for a place among the substitutes.
In terms of the visitors, well Steve McClaren has made two alterations to his side with Jesse Lingard and Darren Bent being welcomed back into the fold. The goals of Bent in particular have been greatly missed in recent weeks, so his return will provide the Rams with a real boost ahead of tonight's crucial match.
Jamie Ward and Jamie Hanson both drop out, meanwhile, having to make do with a place among the backups this evening. There is no place in the matchday squad for Jake Buxton, though, who is suffering from a back injury, while Omar Mascarell was today ruled out for the remainder of the season.
BENCH WATCH!
WOLVES SUBS: McCarey, Ebanks-Landell, Hause, Iorfa, Edwards, Van La Parra, Doyle
DERBY SUBS: Roos, Hanson, Shotton, Warnock, Dawkins, Ward, Thomas
As already mentioned, Van La Parra has to settle for a place on the hosts' bench this evening, where he is joined by Kevin Doyle, Dave Edwards and Iorfa - the latter of whom may not yet be fully fit following his recent injury problem. Derby can call upon Jamie Hanson should they wish, who will no doubt still be on a high following his goalscoring debut against Norwich City six days ago.
The setting for this evening's crunch clash between two sides with promotion aspirations in mind:
Well Wolves head into this game feeling somewhat rejuvenated having returned to winning ways last time out against Sheffield Wednesday. After looking over their shoulder for a short spell, all attention is now very much back on the top six places which is once again back in sight. Wanderers could actually break into the playoff zone with a win in front of their home supporters, but their goal difference will need improving if that is to happen.
Brentford currently occupy that final playoff spot heading into this huge weekend of Championship action, sitting three points above Wolves with a goal difference +3 better off. It's almost certain that goal difference will have some part to play come the end of the season, whether it be to separate sixth from seventh or second from third, so there is more than just points to play for in the coming weeks - starting with a big test against Derby.
Just three weeks ago Derby were sitting top of the pile following back-to-back victories and looking down at the rest of the chasing pack. Since then, though, they have taken just two points from their last five to slip down to fifth place. Now, rather than opening up a gap at the summit, they are fighting simply to keep pace with the automatic promotion pacesetters.
In fact, only four teams in the division have been in worse form than the Rams over the past six games, a run which has seen McClaren's men struggle to find their rhythm. A large part of that has been down to the lack of goals in the team - just three in their last five - although with Bent back that may now be a problem that is soon to be fixed.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Derby won the reverse fixture 5-0 earlier this season in what was a real one-sided affair at the iPro Stadium. That was in fact their first win in six against their near rivals, however, with just one win in seven at Molineux highlighting their recent struggles here.
PREDICTION: Derby have failed to pick up all three points on the road in their last five outings, their last win coming against Cardiff back in January. The lack of goals has been the biggest issue for them, but with Bent back you fancy the Rams to start scoring again, should the creative players come to the fore. Bakary Sako has 12 goals of his own, meanwhile, meaning that we have two real heavyweights on show. This really is a massive game in the grand scheme of things, and I'm expecting goals this evening - 2-2.
KICKOFF! Another weekend of Championship action is officially underway as Wolves look to push forward from the off. Can either side make a positive start?
The answer to that previous poser has been emphatically answered by Tom Ince. A fine slaloming run saw him leave three opposition players in their wake, although he could not control the ball once inside the box. Bent fired away a shot from the follow-up which was blocked away.
A brilliant challenge from Doherty on Lingard on the edge of the box prevents the Manchester United loanee from getting a shot away at goal from the edge of the box. Derby have started the better here, but have nothing to show for their efforts in the opening five minutes.
SHOT! Derby County continue their promising early start to the game, with Johnny Russell the latest to try his luck from range. This time the shot is not blocked, but it was more than a few inches away from testing Kuszczak between the sticks.
CHANCE! The first real scare for Derby, as a dangerous cross into the box from Henry causes some real chaos inside the box. Keogh was the man who eventually hooked clear, but not before a scramble.
Derby may have started on top, although there is no question that Wolves have grown into the game and they now look a real threat when breaking forward. Henry was just a few inches away from connecting with Golbourne's teasing cross, which flew straight out for a goal kick in the end.
Sako goes on a mazy run of his own, matching that of Ince's a little earlier, but it culminates in Derby winning a goal kick. Afobe almost latched onto a through-ball shortly after in what is turning out to be an extremely open game, but Grant was quick to read the danger. So tough to call which way this one is going to go.
CHANCE! A fantastic piece of sweeping play from Derby sees Forsyth in acres of space out on the left, but his cross into the box just about evades the stretched leg of Bent. That attacking wave of play really looked as though it was going to provide the opening goal of the game.
The lively Sako uses his power to drive into the box, looking to cut the ball back to a teammate only for it to be cut out. This contest has shown no signs that it will slow down any time soon, with that breakthrough goal surely just a few moments away.
Another near-perfect cross into the box, this time from the right by Henry, sails agonisingly over the head of Sako and into the hands of Grant. Wolves have been on top for the past 15 minutes or so, bar one attacking move from Derby, but they have been unable to make their pressure count.
Both sides have enjoyed spells on the ball over the past few minutes in this wide-open affair, without creating any real opportunities. In fact, we haven't seen any clear-cut chances so far, just the odd shot from range.
OFF THE BAR! Having been given far too much space on the edge of the box, Ince opens up his body and strikes towards goal. It looked for all the world to be dipping over the reach Kuszczak and into the back of the net, but the bar came to the home side's rescue.
SAVE! Wanderers' best chance of the game falls to the feet of Afobe, who forces a low save out of Grant from six yards out having latched onto Dicko's cross from the right. He perhaps should have done better from that range, although big credit must go to the Derby stopper who kept it out with his legs at the near post.
Plenty of away supporters inside Molineux tonight which has only added to the atmosphere:
The story of this game so far has been an array of fine crosses from both sides not being converted, with shots from distance thrown in for good measure. That aside, Ince has struck the crossbar, while the hosts' best chance was squandered by Afobe who failed to convert from close range.
Dicko has looked really lively in the opening third of the game, and his latest attempt is not all that far wide of goal. A brilliant first touch on the edge of the box allowed him to turn and get a shot away, but he couldn't quite force a save out of Grant.
SAVE! Ince again finds a little bit of space in the hole, although rather than work a shot away himself he lays it off for Lingard to shoot. It was a decent attempt, too, which required a helping hand from Kuszczak to push it over the bar.
SAVE! Another stop from Kuszczak, as Derby enjoy a good little spell of pressure. Much like the one before it, it was hardly a world-class stop from the former Manchester United man, but he had to be alert to push aside Ince's half-volley.
CONTROVERSIAL DECISION! Big moment here, as Batth pulls back on Bent who was racing through on goal. The referee had blown his whistle to give the free kick around 20 yards from goal, although Ince continued play and put the ball in the back of the net. To add insult to injury, there was no red card shown to the Wolves defender - he's got away with one there because he was very much the last man.
Derby failed to convert from the free kick, with Bryson's attempt being kept out by Kuszczak, so we remain goalless at Molineux. This half has certainly been worthy of a goal or two, but it looks likely that we will head into the interval locked at 0-0.
Half time is drawing nearer and it is Derby who are on top once more. Both sides have seemed to take it in turns to enjoy spells such as the one the Rams are currently enjoying, with neither doing quite enough to make the breakthrough. That opening goal, should it eventually come, could potentially be decisive.
YELLOW CARD! Cyrus Christie is shown a yellow following his challenge on Sako. That should be the last piece of play of the half.
HALF TIME: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0-0 DERBY COUNTY
Indeed it is the last action of the half as Keith Stroud brings the opening 45 minutes to a close. It has been an action-packed game thus far, without a goal to show for both sides' positive attacking play.
That biggest talking point of the half came six minutes before the interval when Batth brought down Bent on the edge of the box. Not only did Derby feel as though it should have been a red card, but Ince went on to put the ball in the back of the net, unaware that the whistle had already been blown.
While it has been an entertaining opening 45 minutes in the West Midlands, chances have proved to be few and far between in large. Ince has looked likely, picking up the ball in space on a few occasions, and it was his shot which crashed back off the bar which very nearly provided the breakthrough moment. Kuszczak has been the busier keeper, although Grant did well indeed to deny Afobe from six yards out up the other end.
BENCH WATCH!
WOLVES SUBS: McCarey, Ebanks-Landell, Hause, Iorfa, Edwards, Van La Parra, Doyle
DERBY SUBS: Roos, Hanson, Shotton, Warnock, Dawkins, Ward, Thomas
A quick reminder of the options available to both managers, then, as the teams prepare to emerge for the second half. We are unlikely to see any changes at the interval, with McClaren and Jackett surely happy enough with what they have seen from their sides in large. Let's just hope for more of the same in the second half.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Derby County get proceedings back underway at Molineux, with everything still to play for. Three points would make such a huge difference for both sides.
A far more tentative start to the second period, as the two teams perhaps look to weight each other up a little. Derby have seen a lot of the ball without truly breaking into advanced positions.
GOAL! WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1-0 DERBY COUNTY (SAKO)
A sloppy piece of play from the Forsyth allows McDonald to intercept the ball and feed in Dicko inside the area at a fairly tight angle. I've mentioned how he, along with Sako, has looked lively all evening, and having worked the ball onto his left foot he fired the through the legs of two visiting players and caught Grant a little by surprise in the process.
Well we saw Derby hit back against Norwich last weekend when the game looked to be getting away from them, so they need to show the same sort of character this evening. It has been a balanced contest overall, so it's hard to say that Wolves deserve their lead, but at least now the Rams will be forced into creating more clear-cut chances.
OFF THE POST! This has been a really good response from the visitors, who have come within the width of the post of drawing level. Bryson's low shot thundered back off the upright and away from danger, just moments after Kuszczak had been called into action again.
OFF THE BAR! The frame of the goal has been rattled for a third time this evening, although on this occasion it is Wolves who will be bemoaning their luck. McDonald found Dicko on the end of another counter-attack, but the striker could not get his shot on goal when inside the area.
Derby are really turning the heat on their opponents now, despite nearly seeing the game slip out of their grasp through that Dicko strike a few minutes ago. A cross from the left bobbled around in the area before Doherty eventually cleared away. A real scare for the hosts.
Today's attendance has been announced at just short of the 27,500 mark - a bumper crowd for this Championship encounter:
Derby have been playing at a real high tempo since falling behind, and although they are still not creating chances they still look like they have a goal in them. Wolves could quite as easily add a second, though, coming close to doing just that when Sako's 30-yarder was well handled by Grant.
WOLVES SUB: Dicko, the man whose goal currently makes the difference, has been withdrawn in the game's first change of personnel. Edwards is on in his place as Jackett opts to add another player into the middle of the park.
WOLVES SUB: James Henry has now been replaced by Rajiv van La Parra, although there is no sign of a change being made by Derby.
GOAL! WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2-0 DERBY COUNTY (GRANT, OG)
What an absolute shocker of a goal for Derby to concede, and that could signal yet another defeat for them. Van La Parra, on the field for just a few minutes, sent in a fairly straightforward cross for Forsyth to deal with towards the front post, but he looped his clearance into the air which meant that Grant had to punch clear. The Rams keeper got it all wrong, though, making horrible contact with the ball and essentially punching it into his own net. Red faces all around.
Derby just haven't been able to make their spells on the ball count for anything. Once again a cross into the box causes a little panic, although it is cleared away in the end. Things are looking bleak for McClaren's men with less than 20 minutes to go in this West Midlands showdown.
SHOT! Lingard shoots from range, not for the first time today, although birthday boy Kuszczak gets behind the ball to collect with ease. The Rams just haven't done enough to get off the mark, with their current record of three goals in five games about to extend to three goals in six games. This is a side still backed as strong candidates to go up automatically, remember.
Incidentally, soon after that second goal Derby brought on Dawkins in place of Russell. So far he has not been able to make the desired impact.
MATCH ACTION: Tom Ince is challenge by Wanderers' opening goalscorer Nouha Dicko:
Derby are still probing away, much like they have been for 80 minutes in truth, although substitute Dawkins couldn't quite find the back of the net with his curler. A goal for the visitors really would change the context of this game, but they don't look like getting off the mark at the moment.
Lingard again tests Kuszczak with a straightforward attempt to keep out. The stats will show that Derby have dominated in terms of shots on goal, but they still need to do a little more to find a way through.
Derby are in a real perilous position in the league table as things stands. Playing first this weekend really should have given them an advantage, but ahead of tomorrow's fixtures they are just two points clear of seventh-placed Wolves. Incidentally, one more goal for Wanderers will be enough to lift them level with Brentford who occupy the final playoff berth.
A decent passing move from the Rams sees Dawkins pick out Bent inside the area, but the on loan striker's effort is blocked away inside the area. Three minutes left for Derby to make their spell of pressure count for something.
Afobe bursts forward as Wolves look to hit their opponents on the break, but he was denied before getting a shot away at goal. Derby still largely on top, although the tempo has now dropped as they perhaps resign themselves to another defeat.
WOLVES SUB: Kevin Doyle will get a few minutes of game time here, as he comes on in place of Afobe. No goal for the departing forward this evening, but he has done well enough.
All the noise is coming from the home fans in the closing few minutes of the game. We have another two minutes of added time to play, but this one is all over.
Wolves have run the ball into the corner to tick down the final few seconds. It's very much job done for them in terms of their work for the weekend, now they can put their feet up and watch all the twists and turns unfold tomorrow.
CHANCE! The first real chance we have seen in a long, long time, and no doubt the last of the game. Sako picks up the ball around 40 yards from goal, but he is simply allowed to run and run and run at the opposition before eventually blazing a shot over the bar from inside the area.
FULL TIME: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2-0 DERBY COUNTY
Referee Keith Stroud brings the game to a close, as Wolves see out the game with relative ease in the end. It could have been so much different had either of Derby's shots which crashed off the upright been just a few inches either side, but it was not to be for the Rams who are now winless in five.
Well that's all from me for this evening, but be sure to return tomorrow afternoon for what should be another thrilling afternoon of Championship football. Our live text coverage begins shortly before midday as second and third face off in a real promotion belter at the Goldsands stadium. See you then!
