Premier League: Norwich 2 Wolves 1

Two first-half goals from Grant Holt helped Norwich come from behind to beat Wolves 2-1 at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Matt Jarvis opened the scoring after 25 minutes for Wolves, but a sublime one-on-one finish from Holt restored parity just a minute later, and a penalty in first-half stoppage time put the hosts ahead.

They managed to hold on to that lead and post the win, but Holt’s day was soured when he was ordered off late on for a second bookable offence.

The visitors started brightly, with Stephen Ward fizzing a shot just wide of the post, while Michael Kightly marked his return to the Wolves starting line-up with a teasing free kick that eluded everyone in the box.

The hosts responded though, and Zak Whitbread almost broke the deadlock after 10 minutes, but his header was cleared off the line.

Wolves took the lead on 25 minutes after Kightly drove down the right flank and cut the ball back across goal. Kevin Doyle stuck out a foot to poke the ball towards the penalty spot for Jarvis, who arrived unmarked to stroke the ball home past John Ruddy.

Norwich hit back almost immediately, however, when Simeon Jackson lofted the ball over the heads of the back four for Holt to run on to.

The Norwich captain brilliantly chipped the ball over the onrushing Wayne Hennessey before nodding the ball into the empty net in a finish Lionel Messi would have been proud of.

The hosts began to push for a second, with Holt slicing an ambitious volley well wide of the post.

Moments later, Jackson almost connected with a header inside the six yard box, but Wolves scrambled the ball away as they fought to hang on to parity in the match.

Wolves had the greater possession for much of the half, but the end product was lacking and with just a minute left on the clock before the interval, they found themselves a goal down.

Wes Hoolahan’s curling effort from the edge of the area was blocked by the outstretched arm of Eggert Jonsson. The referee gave a penalty, and Holt stepped up to blast the spot kick down the middle.

Terry Connor sent his side out early for the second half, clearly hoping to have them pumped up for a comeback, but it was Norwich who carved out the best opening after the restart.

Jackson was played through by Johnny Howson, but seemed to have too much time in the penalty area and dithered on the ball until he was dispossessed.

Wolves rallied and enjoyed a solid 15-minute spell of pressure, but again they failed to convert possession into end product and Norwich defended comfortably.

Holt missed his hat-trick by inches midway through the second half, when he just failed to make contact with a Hoolahan cross.

The striker picked up a second yellow card and received his marching orders with five minutes to go, but despite late pressure Wolves failed to carve out an equaliser and Norwich held on for the points.