Wolves 1 (Henry 55)
Preston North End 0
For the second time in a week Wolves were 1-0 home winners with Karl Henry's 55th minute strike securing the three points from a tightly fought out Molineux contest with struggling Preston North End. The win lifted Wanderers up to third in the table
Seyi Olofinjana recovered from a groin strain to take a place in midfield whilst Michael Gray was the other change following Jody Craddock's groin injury suffered in the game against Colchester. Gray slotted in at left back with Neill Collins partnering Darren Ward in central defence.
Wolves kicked-off attacking the South Bank end and to say the opening five minutes were action packed would be an understatement.
From Stephen Ward's centre the ball was headed out to Freddy Eastwood who hit a fierce shot that looked destined for the net until it hit Youl Mawene and bounced clear.
Darron Gibson then grabbed possession and fired over a cross that Eastwood prodded against the foot of the post. The ball bounced back out to Stephen Elliott who turned and shot against the outside of the same piece of woodwork.
Preston almost immediately won a free-kick which was taken by Matthew Hill. He found Liam Chilvers who chested the ball down and converted from close range but the Preston man's celebrations were cut short by a linesman flagging for offside.
From the free-kick Wolves broke through Elliott who had Eastwood for company against just one visiting defender. Elliott found his team-mate with a precision pass but Eastwood was denied by Andy Lonergan who made a fine save.
Simon Whaley's dipping shot was pushed behind by Wayne Hennessey and then Callum Davidson sidefooted wide from close in after a low cross from the right.
In the 17th minute, Eastwood just failed to reach a superb cross from Gibson with the ball only needing a nudge over the line as it flew through the goalmouth.
Both sides had free-kicks awarded in dangerous positions. Gibson's cross was cleared and then Mawene got too much power behind his effort and the ball went high and wide of Hennessey's goal.
Hennessey needed two attempts to gather a stinging effort from Whaley before Sean St Ledger went into the book after felling Stephen Ward.
Eastwood found another shot on goal blocked again after he had connected with Gray's deep free-kick into the box, and the last attempt of the half fell to Henry who was too high with a long-range drive.
Half-Time; Wolves 0 Preston 0
Unlike the opening session, the start of the second-half was a rather mundane affair until the 55th minute when a superb effort from Henry gave Wolves the lead and sparked the stadium into life.
Skipper in Craddock's absence, Henry picked up the ball in the centre circle and advanced on the Preston goal before unleashing a low 25-yard shot that flew past Lonergan (pictured).
Matt Jarvis replaced Gibson shortly afterwards and, after Kevin Foley had cut out a dangerous cross from Brett Omerod, Collins was inches away from a second Wolves goal when his header looped wide following a Jarvis corner.
Eastwood was penalised for tripping Callum Davidson just under 30-yards from goal but Hennessey got his body behind St Ledger's curling free-kick.
A misplaced Elliott pass gave Preston substitute Neil Mellor the chance to get in a shot but he was forced wide and Hennessey touched away his angled drive with Darren Ward completing the clearance.
Andy Keogh came on for Elliott with 15 minutes remaining and there were loud appeals for a penalty as he ran along the by-line and appeared to be tripped Mawene, but the referee waved play on.
Darren Ward conceded a corner as St Ledger threatened but Davidson's flag-kick came to nothing and then Chris Sedgwick's piledriver was tipped over by Hennessey.
From the resulting corner, taken by Whaley, the ball was helped on to Andy Carroll who shot wide at the far post.
Darren Potter, a late replacement for Eastwood, was booked for a foul on Davidson before, deep into stoppage time, Carroll was uncomfortably close with a low shot from just outside the area.
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray, Henry (capt), D. Ward, N. Collins, Olofinjana, Eastwood (Potter 85), Elliott (Keogh 75), Gibson (Jarvis 57), S. Ward.
Unused subs: Little, Ikeme.
Booking: Potter (90 - foul).
Preston: Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, Sedgwick (Gallagher 79), Agyemang (Carroll 79), St. Ledger, Chilvers, Whaley, McKenna (capt), Ormerod (Mellor 64), Hill.
Unused subs: Halls, Neal.
Booking: St Ledger (40 - foul).
Referee: A. D'Urso.
Attendance: 22.836.
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