Barnsley 1 (Ferenczi 47)
Wolves 0
Jaded Wolves suffered a 1-0 defeat at Oakwell and lost the chance of closing in on the top two after a below par performance against Barnsley.
Hungarian striker Istvan Ferenczi scored the only goal of the game early in the second-half with Heinz Muller denying Andy Keogh just three minutes later by saving the Irishman's penalty kick.
Stephen Elliott, Freddy Eastwood and Darron Gibson were all relegated to the bench following the narrow win over Preston, with Darren Potter, Keogh and Matt Jarvis taking their places.
Stephen Ward partnered Keogh in attack and it was a first full start for Jarvis as Wolves took to the field wearing their all blue kit. Barnsley kicked-off attacking the away end of Oakwell that housed just over a thousand travelling fans who were making themselves heard.
Neither keeper was troubled in a quiet opening to the game and it wasn't until the 12th minute that there was a major threat with Jarvis cutting into the box after taking a Keogh pass. The winger got plenty of power behind his shot but Jamal Campbell-Ryce blocked at close quarters.
The ball was cleared upfield and Neill Collins was forced to head behind, as Jon Macken threatened, for the first of four successive corner all of which tested the visiting defence.
As the half approached the midway point, Macken sent a bullet header wide after a searching cross from Dominik Werling.
Moments later Werling supplied another dangerous centre which went behind Ferenczi allowing Michael Gray to run in and clear.
Wayne Hennessey dived to make a double handed save from Ferenczi's header after another Werling cross before Potter won Wolves' first corner of the game off Werling. But Jarvis' flag-kick was easily cleared by the home defence.
Muller had to push out a Jarvis shot after the Wolves man had robbed Werling near the halfway line and sprinted to the edge of the Barnsley box.
German midfielder Werling was featuring at both ends of the pitch and after he had fouled Jarvis to the right of the Barnsley area, Jarvis' free-kick was cleared and Werling ran half the length of the pitch before sending in a low cross that ran through to Campbell-Ryce whose fierce goalbound drive hit Darren Ward and cannoned behind for a corner.
Anderson De Silva hit a long-distance effort that flew into the arms of Hennessey who didn't have to move his feet, before Campbell-Ryce was close again with an angled shot that fizzed inches wide of the far post.
Hennessey was at his best when he made a tremendous save to touch away a Werling free-kick and then Stephen Ward was off target with a 25-yard attempt.
In stoppage time Potter was fouled five-yards outside the home area and Keogh's free-kick drifted across the area and just wide of the far post with no-one able to get a touch.
Half-Time: Barnsley 0 Wolves 0
Elliott was an interval replacement for Jarvis with Stephen Ward moving to his usual position on the left.
In the first minute of the new half, Hennessey had to deflect a short, low centre from Stephen Foster behind with his feet.
But the respite for Wolves was to prove brief as the Tykes moved into a 47th minute lead. Martin Devaney fired over a deep cross and Karl Henry, at the far post, attempted to clear with a diving header.
But the ball flew across the face of goal to Ferenczi at the opposite post and he netted from point blank range.
Within three minutes Wolves were handed the chance of an equaliser when Lewin Nyatanga hauled down Elliott as he ran into the Barnsley area.
Keogh stepped up to the spot but Muller guessed correctly diving to his left to beat the kick away with a defender booting the loose ball behind for an unproductive corner.
Potter went into the book for a late challenge on Werling. He was replaced shortly afterwards by Gibson who was only on the field for four minutes before he too saw yellow after fouling Brian Howard
With 67 minutes gone Eastwood was sent on for Stephen Ward and, within a minute of his introduction, the Welsh striker flicked a pass to Seyi Olofinjana who shot narrowly wide from 25-yards.
Olofinjana then set up a chance for Henry who fired wide of the far post and then the Nigerian launched a looping cross that Muller, diving backwards, turned away from under the bar.
In the dying minutes Muller made a comfortable save from Gibson's 20-yard drive and in stoppage time Henry was booked for obstruction.
Barnsley: Muller, Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Werling, Campbell-Ryce, De Silva, Howard (capt), Devaney (Togwell 70), Ferenczi (Christensen 90), Macken (Mostto 89).
Unused subs: Reid, McCann.
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray, Henry (capt), D. Ward, N. Collins, Olofinjana, Potter (Gibson 56), Keogh, Jarvis (Elliott 45), S. Ward (Eastwood 67).
Unused subs: Edwards, Ikeme.
Bookings: Potter (56 - foul), Gibson (60 - foul), Henry (90 - foul).
Referee: G. Salisbury.
Attendance: 9,956 (1,099 visiting supporters).
