Barnsley 1 (Richards 10)
Wolves 0
For the second time in a week, Wolves slipped to a single goal defeat. In a game of two halves at Oakwell, Wolverhampton born Marc Richards scored the only goal for Barnsley in the early stages of the contest.
Wolves were far from their best in the opening 45 minutes but there was a marked improvement after the break. However, despite enjoying much of the attacking play, an equaliser wasn't forthcoming.
Lewis Gobern made his full League debut and Rohan Ricketts returned to the starting line-up in place of illness victim Daniel Jones and Karl Henry who took a place on the bench.
Barnsley kicked-off attacking the away end of Oakwell and with just over a minute gone Martin Devaney's short corner was collected by Michael McIndoe who turned a fired into the side netting from an acute angle.
The first threat from Wolves came after five minutes when Gobern was fouled by Paul Heckingbottom to the right of the home area. Gobern fired over the free-kick but Jay Bothroyd's header was too high.
Gary Breen just managed to cut out Brian Howard's cross with Paul Hayes a certain scorer at the far post had the Molineux defender not intervened.
But the corner conceded led to Barnsley taking a tenth minute lead. McIndoe's flag-kick was nodded down into the six-yard box by Antony Kay and, after a brief scramble, Richards forced the ball home.
Seyi Olofinjana headed high over the bar following a Darren Potter free-kick after Bothroyd had been fouled to the left of the Barnsley box, but the home team were soon back on the attack and it took a great save from Matt Murray to deny Hayes.
The striker's header from Devaney's cross looked destined for the back of the net but Murray brilliantly fingertipped the ball over the bar.
Midway through the half Mark Little pulled the ball back for Ricketts whose volley packed plenty of power but unfortunately went straight to Nick Coglan in the home goal.
Bothroyd was just inches away from levelling matters with a glancing header that flashed past the far post after Potter had supplied the centre.
But in the 32nd minute it was Murray to the rescue again with a save that was even better than his earlier effort. Richards got his head to a cross from Devaney and the ball looked to have gone over Murray when he touched it over the bar.
From the corner conceded, taken by Devaney, the Wolves keeper was beaten to the ball by Kay whose header was only just off target.
Five minutes before the break Hayes skipped past Breen and then Murray before hitting a low shot that was cleared off the line by the perfectly positioned Rob Edwards.
After another corner from Devaney had only been half cleared, Murray threw himself sideways to block Kay's drive from 12-yards.
A Gobern corner came to nothing at the end of a disappointing half for the visitors.
Half-Time: Barnsley 1 Wolves 0
Leon Clarke replaced Bothroyd at the start of the second-half which was just two minutes old when Howard curled a 25-yard free-kick uncomfortably close to the angle after Potter was adjudged to have fouled the Barnsley man.
Clarke's low cross from the left found Ricketts who worked a shooting position for himself but Colgan managed to cling on to the drive that followed.
Wolves were looking much sharper at this stage and Colgan had to be at his best to block a close range effort from Jemal Johnson who had turned on to a low cross from Edwards.
Richards flashed a header narrowly wide after a McIndoe free-kick then Little fired over the bar from 25-yards when Wolves next went forward.
Potter played a corner to Ricketts on the 18-yard line but the midfielder's shot was taken by Coglan, then Clarke hit an angled shot wide of the far post.
Carl Cort was sent on in place of Gobern and, shortly after Murray had raced from his area to clear from McIndoe, Charlie Mulgrew took the place of Edwards.
McIndoe and Breen were both booked after a brief off the ball altercation, and Mulgrew had to receive attention after a clash of heads.
Barnsley's defence held tight as the game neared it's conclusion but, despite the defeat, the Wolves team were applauded from the pitch by their loyal band of supporters.
Barnsley: Coglan, Hassell (capt), Heckingbottom, Togwell, Hayes (Wright 80), McIndoe, Howard, Kay, Tonge, Richards (Williams 90), Devaney (Healy 77).
Unused subs: Mannone, McParland.
Booking: McIndoe (80 - ungentlemanly conduct).
Wolves: Murray, Edwards (Mulgrew 77), Little, Potter, Breen, Craddock (capt), Gobern (Cort 62). Bothroyd (Clarke 45), Johnson, Olofinjana, Ricketts.
Unused subs: Henry, Ikeme.
Booking: Breen (80 - ungentlemanly conduct).
Ref: N. Miller.
Attendance: 11,350 (1,686 away supporters).
Sheffield United 1 Wolves under 18s (Hughes, Ajaha)
