Wolves 2 (Seol 4, Cort 84)

Crystal Palace 1 (McAnuff 42)

  It was hard, but Wolves stuck to their task and in the end grabbed a late Carl Cort winner from a tight clash with fellow promotion favourites Crystal Palace.

  Glenn Hoddle's team had to make do without the services of Paul Ince who was ruled out with a calf injury. He was replaced by Seyi Olofinjana and Jody Craddock came in for Rob Edwards as the two changes to the starting line-up.

  The game was less than four minutes old when Wolves took the lead following a well-constructed move. Mark Kennedy and Rohan Ricketts combined to present Cort with the chance to fire in a low cross and Seol was waiting at the far post to turn the ball over the line (pictured below).

  Just two minutes later Ricketts robbed Ben Watson and fed Kenny Miller but Fitz Hall blocked at close range at the expense of a corner.

  The Palace players surrounded referee Rob Styles protesting that he should have played the advantage rule after Jobi McAnuff's well struck shot had flew past Michael Oakes. But the official had already blown following Joleon Lescott's foul on Andy Johnson.

  Two Watson free-kicks caused concern for the home defence. The first, from 25-yards out in a central position, was saved at the second attempt by Oakes and then, after Craddock had fouled Jon Macken near the corner flag, Watson curled the kick onto the top of the bar although the keeper was watching it all the way.

  Jackie McNamara, on his full home debut, showed his pedigree with a perfectly timed tackle on McAnuff as the Palace man ran into the area, and at the other end Gabor Kiraly parried a Rickett's drive after a probing run from the midfielder.

  Tom Soares was booked for an ugly tackle on Lee Naylor before he missed a golden chance of pulling his team level in the 27th minute when he blazed a shot over the bar after McAnuff's low centre had run through a crowded area to find him unmarked on the far side.

  Oakes had to be at his best to deny the prolific Johnson on the half-hour mark after the striker had been fouled by Lescott. Watson's quickly taken free-kick found Johnson eight-yards out but Oakes was quickly off his line to block with his feet and he then recovered to turn Johnson's follow up around the post.

  The visitors were looking dangerous when they went forward and Oakes pulled off another fine save from Johnson's low angled drive.

  Naylor pumped a free-kick from the halfway line into the Palace box and when the ball was headed out Cort hit a first-time volley that would have given Kiraly no chance had it been a little lower.

  But seconds later, rather than being two up, Wolves were pegged back when McAnuff drilled a low shot into the far corner after Macken had headed on to him.

Half-Time: Wolves 1 Palace 1

  The new half was just 30 seconds old when Miller hit a dipping volley narrowly wide. And, in the 54th minute, Cort wasn't far away after Olofinjana's pass had sent him on a run towards goal.

  The game was still being played at a cracking pace but moves for both teams seemed to be breaking down in or around the respective boxes.

  Midway through the half, there was a double home switch with Edwards coming on for Craddock and Leon Clarke for Seol.

  Kiraly saved bravely at Cort's feet as the pair contested McNamara's well flighted cross then Miller was inches away from restoring Wanderers lead with a ferocious volley that hit the outside of the post and went behind following a good centre from Kennedy.

  Kiraly then made a superb save to deny Clarke who took a couple of steps across the edge of the Palace box before unleashing a blistering shot that the Hungarian pushed behind.

  Loud applause from all sides of the ground greeted the introduction of George Ndah in the 78th minute when he replaced Miller.

  Palace looked as if they were going to snatch the lead when Watson played a short free-kick to Johnson whose 20-yard shot looked destined for the top corner until Oakes made a save that was equally as good as the one his counterpart had made minutes earlier.

  Then, in the 84th minute, came the winning goal. McNamara's cross from the right was met by the head of Cort - the ball striking Hall on its way into the net (top picture).

  The visitors went in search of an equaliser but a break saw Clarke galloping away down the left only for Kiraly to smother the youngster's cross before Ndah could reach it.

  Just before the end Lescott and Hall went into the book after a brief flare up following a Palace corner as Wanderers held out to register their first win of the season.

  Wolves: Oakes, McNamara, Naylor, Olofinjana, Lescott, Craddock (Edwards 64), Seol (Clarke 64), Ricketts, Cort, Miller (Ndah 78), Kennedy (capt).
Unused subs: Ikeme, Cameron.

Booking: Lescott (90 - flare up).

  Palace: Kiraly, Ward, McAnuff, Leigertwood (Andrews 86), Watson, Borrowdale (Hudson 89), Soares (Kolkka 86), Boyce, Johnson, Macken, Hall (capt).
Unused subs: Speroni, Butterfield.

Booking: Soares (21 - foul), Hall (90 - flare up).

Referee: Rob Styles.

Attendance: 24,745.

Golden Goal times v Crystal Palace:
Golden Goal: 3 minutes 34 seconds - £500
Second Goal: 41 minutes 6 seconds - Match Ball
Third Goal: 83 minutes 6 seconds - £50 into Birmingham Midshires Tracker Account