Wolves 0, Birmingham City 1: Bill Howell's Wolves match stats and player ratings
HAHNEMANN 7
Terrific save from Bowyer, can be pleased with his league debut after dreadful start.
MANCIENNE 5
Brought in at right-back but looked shorn of confidence and offered little.
CRADDOCK 6
Attitude and workrate but not able to stem the flow during testing first half.
BERRA 7
Won so many headers at both ends of the pitch and could easily have sealed a late point.
STEARMAN 7
Started on the left then moved to the right after 28 minutes, he had real presence.
HALFORD 4
Saw more of the towel used for throw-ins than the ball and substituted after half-an-hour.
EDWARDS 6
Better in second half as he was moved to the left but missed a headed chance before the break.
HENRY 6
Poor first half but grew and started to deliver some pin-point long-range passes.
JARVIS 6
Denied by a Hart wonder save and crossed brilliantly for Edwards but not quite enough.
DOYLE 5
One terrific shot at the start of the second half but otherwise totally starved of service
EBANKS-BLAKE 5
One chance and didn’t take it, playing well within himself.
SUBSTITUTES:
Kightly (for Halford, 31) lasted just 35 minutes but looked much like his old self 7
Ward (for Mancienne, h/t) three months out and boy have they missed him, fine introduction 7
Milijas (for Kightly, 66) some terrific passing, he added creativity 6
Not used: Hennessey, Castillo, Keogh, Maierhofer.
BOOKINGS: Berra (foul, 58), Ebanks-Blake (foul, 90+1).
CROWD WATCH 4
The attendance – 26,668 – was the lowest of the season and it was louder next door at Asda.
REF WATCH 6
M Clattenburg (Consett, Co Durham): Fine performance marred by one error when he should have given Blues a penalty.
THE MANAGER 5
Mick McCarthy is at his lowest ebb for many, many months. Got it wrong by including Halford in midfield and Mancienne in defence but at least owned up to it by changing them.
GAME RATING 5
Good quality from Blues before the break but this will be long forgotten by neutrals and half of the Black Country currently with long faces.
INJURY WATCH
Kightly faces an anxious wait on his ankle after hobbling back to his car.
WHO’S NEXT UP FOR WOLVES?
Bolton (h) Saturday, 3pm.
