Wolves earn crucial win in relegation battle

Wolverhampton climbed off the bottom of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Bolton at Molineux on Saturday.

Mick McCarthy’s side had slipped into 20th place after Portsmouth’s victory against Burnley in Saturday’s early game, but goals from Jody Craddock and Nenad Milijas ensured they didn’t stay there for long.

Craddock opened the scoring early in the first half and Milijas put Wolves in complete control soon after the hour mark.

Johan Elmander got one back for Bolton but the hosts held on for their first win in 10 matches in all competitions, while the visitors suffered their fifth defeat in six games.

McCarthy had made two changes to his side, recalling Milijas and Stephen Ward as he tried to end a winless run that threatened to send Wolves back to the Championship.

South Korea midfielder Chung-Yong Lee was back in the Bolton line-up in place of the suspended Kevin Davies.

McCarthy’s men made the perfect start in the third minute. Milijas curled over a free-kick, Christophe Berra flicked on and Craddock, who looked to be in an offside position, drove home from close range for his fourth goal of the season.

Wolves almost added a second in the 18th minute when Richard Stearman headed goalwards following a corner from Matt Jarvis, but Ricardo Gardner cleared off the line.

After struggling to find any momentum in the early stages, Bolton began to threaten. Ivan Klasnic tested Marcus Hahnemann from distance and Gretar Steinsson headed wide from Lee’s corner.

Klasnic had Bolton’s best chance of the first half but shot wastefully over after Lee’s pass split the Wolves defence.

Wolves were back on top in the second half and increased their lead in the 63rd minute through Serbian midfielder Milijas. He latched on to a loose ball and smashed his shot beyond goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Hahnemann reacted superbly to parry Matt Taylor’s close-range effort moments later before Elmander gave Gary Megson’s strugglers a glimmer of hope in the 79th minute.

Elmander was set up by Klasnic following a corner from Taylor and the Swedish striker beat the goalkeeper from close range.

Klasnic should have earned Bolton a point in a frantic finish but he shot straight at Hahnemann.