Wolves fielded a trio of trialists and three transfer-listed players at Crewe – but it was young pro Scott Malone who was the match-winner.

With manager Mick McCarthy watching, Wolves handed 22-capped Hungary international right-back Zoltan Szelesi a game alongside fellow trialist Bobo Balde at the back, while 18-year-old Irish midfielder, Jimmy Keohane, was a late substitute.

Dave Jones also made his comeback for Wolves, the midfielder playing for the first 32 minutes following tendonitis in his knee.

But, in a lively game, it was Crewe who threatened first as Clayton Donaldson fired into the side-netting from close range.

Ashley Hemmings saw a shot blocked after a run by transfer-listed Neill Collins, playing as a defensive midfielder.

A 25-yard free-kick from Crewe’s Billy Jones was just too high before Wolves hit back, with a Balde header that flew narrowly over before the visitors took a 37th minute lead.

Malone was the scorer, lashing into the roof of the net from just inside the area after latching onto a flick from Hemmings.

Hemmings almost opened the account for the second half after firing just over, before Wolves had transfer-listed Darren Ward to thank for racing back to clear off the line, after Calvin Zola had sprung the offside trap and rounded Marcus Hahnemann.

Then Hemmings gave Malone the chance to make it 2-0, with a clever pass to leave the 18-year-old clean through, but he was denied by on-loan Spurs keeper David Button.

Collins drove over from 20 yards, before Crewe three times went close to an equaliser. Hahnemann reacted quickly to a wicked deflection to Danny O’Donnell’s flick from Jones’s free-kick.

Then Zola’s header hit the bar from John Brayford’s cross and Donaldson blazed over after Wolves failed to clear.

Crewe: Button, Brayford, W Jones, Mitchel-King, (Bailey 73), O’Donnell, Ada (Chanot 64), Donaldson, Westwood (Schumacher HT), Grant, Zola, Moore (Miller 73).

Wolves (4-1-4-1): Hahnemann; Szelesi, Balde, D Ward, Shackell; Collins; K Bennett (Rooney 77), Mendez-Laing (Keohane 84), Dave Jones (D Davis 32), Malone; Hemmings.

Subs not used: Ikeme, Batth.

Referee: A Taylor.

Attendance: 1,741 (126 Wolves fans)