Wolves 1 Birmingham 0: Full time match report

Dec 12 2010 by PA Sport

Wolves deservedly secured a derby triumph over Birmingham which could have been all the more comfortable if not for the heroics of Ben Foster.

Stephen Hunt's near-post finish on the stroke of half-time was the only effort to beat the England international who put in another sublime performance to keep the hosts at bay at Molineux.

Wanderers triumphed with their first clean sheet since April, although that was much to do with Birmingham's inability to create anything of note.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy stoked the flames ahead of the derby by stressing the encounter was about more than just three points, and he will be a relieved man to see his side move within a point of safety with what was his first success over the blue half of Birmingham in seven league attempts.

McCarthy was admittedly dealing with the most severe injury crisis he has had to contend with in almost two decades of management.

With enough players sidelined to make an entire starting XI, he was forced to make four changes from the side who went down 3-0 at Blackburn last weekend - Kevin Doyle (dead leg), Matt Jarvis, Michael Mancienne (both knee) and Steven Mouyokolo (back) making way for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Hunt, David Edwards and Richard Stearman.

Birmingham counterpart Alex McLeish also made three changes, handing starts to Serbia striker Nikola Zigic, Sebastian Larsson and David Murphy.

The opening stages were played at a typical bustling derby tempo, setting the trend for the afternoon.

Foster's first save of the encounter came with 10 minutes on the clock, diving to his right to pluck Edwards' goalbound header out of the air.

The former Manchester United stopper was at it again less than 60 seconds later, denying Hunt with a great point-blank block after the ball broke six yards out.

Blues were losing possession far too easily in the final third, meaning they were struggling to create a worthwhile chance.