Wolves 2 (Eastwood 46, Craddock 49)
Bradford City 1 (Nix 77)
Wolves were forced to work hard by League Two Bradford City before claiming a place in the draw for the second round of the Carling Cup.
Four players make their full debuts for the Molineux side, Elliott Bennett, Freddy Eastwood, Kevin Foley and Graham Stack, whilst just three men, Michael Kightly, Andy Keogh and Darren Potter, started in the opening League fixture against Watford.
City kicked-off attacking the North Bank end and, after six minutes Bennett's low cross was just inches too far in front of Keogh.
The Irish striker then looked to be upended by Darren Williams inside the box but the referee waved play on.
Stack dived and got both hands to a 20-yards shot from Omar Daley with the corner conceded coming to nothing.
Kightly's angled shot was saved at the near post by Donovan Ricketts before Bennett was yellow carded for an over exuberant tackle on Williams.
On the half hour mark, Charlie Mulgrew limped off to be replaced by Jamie Clapham and the full back was soon involved in the action firing over a cross that Eastwood met with a first time effort.
The striker miscued his shot and the ball flew up into the air before landing at the feet of Keogh who fired high over the bar with an attempted volley.
A confident looking Bennett went on a run past three defenders before he lost possession. The ball broke to Eastwood who wasn't far off the mark from 25 yards.
The home goal had a let off in the 42nd minute when Paul Evans' free-kick from the side of the area glanced off the face of the crossbar before being cleared.
Then Stack had to dive to cut out a centre from Daley before Kightly pulled the ball back for Potter to strike a rising drive that was only a foot wide.
Half-Time; Wolves 0 Bradford 0
Stephen Ward was a half-time replacement for Bennett and the new half which was just a minute old when Wolves moved into the lead.
Ward's cross from the left was nodded on by Keogh to Eastwood who placed a header past Ricketts.
Three minutes later it was 2-0 with a goal that would be a contender for any goal of the season award. Kightly's corner was headed out to Jody Craddock who, from 25 yards, hit a stunning volley past Ricketts who didn't move as the ball flew into the top corner.
Ricketts then made a fine save to deny Kightly who had run onto Keogh's short through pass.
Karl Henry went into the book for a late challenge on Eddie Johnson and then the Wolves skipper found Keogh who was inches wide of the far post with an angled shot.
Ward tried a long range effort that hit a defender taking the sting out of the shot and allowing Ricketts to make a comfortable save before City cut the deficit in the 77th minute.
Substitute Guylain Ndumba-Nsunga's low cross ran to Kyle Nix who converted from close range at the far post.
Three minutes later Ndumba-Nsunga almost equalized with a powerful header that flew wide following a cross from Williams.
But, in the remaining minutes, Stack wasn't unduly troubled and Wolves held out to progress to the second round of the competition.
Wolves: Stack, Foley, Mulgrew (Clapham 30), Potter, Craddock, Edwards, Bennett (S. Ward 45), Henry (capt), Eastwood, Keogh, Kightly.
Unused subs: N. Collins, Gleeson, Hennessey.
Bookings: Bennett (29 - foul), Henry (55 - foul).
Bradford: Ricketts, Williams, Heckingbottom, Evans, Wetherhall (capt), Bower, Colbeck, Johnson, Conlon (Ndumba-Nsungu 66), Nix, Daley (Rhodes 66).
Unused subs: Saynor, Ainge, Joynes.
Referee: S. Mathieson.
Attendance: 9,625.
