Wolves 3 Derby 0
Championship leaders Wolves made light of top scorer Chris Iwelumo’s absence by returning to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over midlands rivals Derby at Molineux.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake struck either side of David Edwards goal as Wanderers bounced back from Saturday’s defeat to QPR.
Iwelumo was a late omission from Mick McCarthy’s side after suffering a slight ankle injury in training. The 15-goal striker was replaced by Andy Keogh.
The only other change, after the 1-0 loss at Loftus Road ended an eight-game unbeaten run, saw summer signing Matt Hill make his debut at left-back.
Derby boss Paul Jewell made five changes. The most notable inclusion saw Stephen Bywater return in goal after Roy Carroll was given a two-week suspension by the club following a dressing room altercation with Jewell in the wake of the home defeat to Crystal Palace.
There was only a minute on the clock when Ebanks-Blake opened the scoring from the penalty spot.
Rams defender Darren Powell was adjudged to have handled the ball after Keogh flicked Wayne Hennessey’s long clearance into the box after just 55 seconds.
It seemed a harsh decision but referee Grant Hegley immediately pointed to the spot.
Ebanks-Blake coolly placed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner sending Bywater the wrong way.
It was the former Manchester United trainee’s fourth success from the spot this season.
Wolves survived a brief scare in the seventh minute when they failed to clear a low cross from the right-hand side.
The ball broke to Emanuel Villa eight yards out but the Argentinian could not get it out of his feet and was crowded out by defenders.
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