Wolves – the new Albion of the Championship? Manager Mick McCarthy has hinted at it and the evidence on this display was firm.

The idea of Wolves “copying” their arch rivals won’t sit easily with fans, but let’s not forget the Baggies won the Championship last season, playing the sort of free-flowing football that ripped apart Sheffield Wednesday for the final hour.

If Wolves were to do the same as their rivals did last season, no-one of a gold and black persuasion could complain.

Albion did it by filling their boots with 88 goals. The Wolves of 2008/09 certainly look much more capable of scoring than the 2007/08 outfit – as this biggest Molineux win under McCarthy proved.

Three games in, including the Carling Cup, and nine goals have rattled the opposition net, as Wolves have created chances galore. It’s very early days and Wolves aren’t the finished article, as their uncertain defending for the first half hour which caused them to trail for the third successive game testified.

Wolves are going to have much more difficult assignments, than what turned out to be their equal biggest home league win since they thrashed Gillingham 6-0 on March 22, 2003.

But the signs at the moment are extremely good, especially going forward, where they look full of goals. From a fans’ perspective, the biggest lift is probably the difference in tempo at Molineux.

Wolves are tearing at the opposition with a pace the visitors are struggling to match, banishing memories of their difficulties in breaking down teams at home last term.

Playing with two fit wingers they were robbed of for half a season each last campaign has already made a huge difference.

Their influence can’t be underestimated and it is crucial Michael Kightly and Matt Jarvis stay fit this time around.

The biggest debate – and it’s one McCarthy appears to be wrestling with – is whether the expansive components of Wolves’ game an be accommodated and tailored on their travels, where they will come under more pressure.

Their importance could certainly not be callled unto question at Molineux on Saturday.

Jarvis had arguably his best game in a Wolves shirt, fully deserving his standing ovation and the chants of his name that rained down from the South Bank when he was substituted with 15 minutes to go.

His impact was immense, but no one did more to ensure the nature of victory than Chris Iwelumo.

The big striker was simply unplayable at times. His hold-up play, aerial power in both penalty areas, knack of scoring and ability to bring others into play ensured he was a living nightmare for overworked central defenders Mark Beevers and Richard Wood.

Reflecting on Iwelumo’s impact, it’s also worth looking at how important it was for him to fire for the sake of a harmonious Molineux.

Coming from Charlton, the 30-year-old may be blissfully unaware of the Freddy factor.

On a day when Eastwood got off the mark for Coventry, Iwelumo’s success has meant one of Molineux’s most controversial figures has been put firmly to the margins, surely until his scheduled Molineux return with the Sky Blues on October 18.

Iwelumo also deserves credit for changing perceptions of him.

Of the four summer signings, more eyebrows were raised at his arrival than any other because of his age. People were also sceptical at just how good he was, after being signed following the failure to capture Kyle Lafferty and Aaron Mclean.

He has done his talking on the pitch and already looks like excellent value for money at £400,000.

Iwelumo dragged Wolves level in the 28th minute, when his textbook downward header from Kevin Foley’s left-footed cross beat Lee Grant in the Wednesday goal.

Foley was also the architect when Wolves went close after just two minutes. His centre saw Jarvis’s stretching header palmed away by the Owls keeper, who was grateful to see Richard Stearman’s free header fly straight at him soon after.

Coming after those early chances, it was something of a surprise to see Wednesday – and not Wolves – break the deadlock in the 15th minute.

The hosts only had themselves to blame for sloppy defending, as Neill Collins seemed slow to react and then George Elokobi was beaten too easily, as Etienne Esajas cut inside the left-back and drilled a shot inside Wayne Hennessey’s near post.

The goal acted as a warning sign that Wolves were quick to heed. Ebanks-Blake twice had half chances blocked before Iwelumo’s equaliser. Wolves were good value for going in at the break level, as Stearman headed over and Kightly saw a deflected rising effort tipped over by Grant before half-time.

After the interval, it was a different story as Wolves simply tore Wednesday apart. True, the visitors, didn’t have the best of luck after the dangerous Esajas went off injured at the break, before losing Richard Hinds to a broken left leg at the death, but it didn’t matter to McCarthy’s men.

The move that saw them win the penalty to go ahead for the first time in the 54th minute typified the best of the sizzling football they are playing at the moment.

Iwelumo – who else – headed away Wednesday’s first corner of the game and the ball reached Kightly just outside his own penalty area.

Kightly slipped the ball to Jarvis after advancing some 50 yards and the winger invited a clumsy push from Sean McAllister, allowing Ebanks-Blake the chance to open his account for the season with a drilled finish from the spot.

Five minutes later, Iwelumo tapped home the third, after Kightly had hit the post following Ebanks-Blake’s through ball.

Jarvis screwed agonisingly wide, with Iwelumo unable to turn home at the far post. Yet a fourth goal was within their reach, with another short defence-splitting ball from Ebanks-Blake seeing substitute Dave Edwards steer past Grant.