Ten days before the season kicks-off, the Championship winners are starting to look like a Premier League side, writes Tim Nash.

Wolves found their scoring boots last night – and they may also have nailed their new-look formation.

Click here to see more pictures from the game.

On a night where Sylvan Ebanks-Blake made it three absent Wolves strikers, unfamiliar scorers struck in an increasingly familiar system as George Friend, Andy Keogh and Greg Halford (two) got Wolves back to winning ways before Saturday’s final friendly against Real Valladolid.

Thankfully, Ebanks-Blake will be available for the weekend after sustaining a sore toe in training.

But, in his absence, the players are adapting well to the 4-3-3/4-5-1 system played for the final half-hour or so at Glanford Park.

So well in fact, that they played their best football of pre-season in north Lincolnshire, particularly in the final 35 minutes.

“I thought we were positive and we played some good stuff,” said manager Mick McCarthy. “I hate pre-season and results don’t really matter but it was nice to have won one and score four goals.

“They also had some more chances but so did we, it was a very open game. And Keogh was absolutely outstanding – he was everywhere.”

Along with Friend, Academy prospect Nathaniel Mendez-Laing occupied the other flank and there was 90 minutes for transfer-listed defender Neill Collins as McCarthy sprang a few surprises.

But Collins, initially at right-back, was quickly on the defensive as Scunthorpe created the first chance when winger Garry Thompson powered past him down the left before cutting inside and stinging the hands of Marcus Hahnemann with a fierce drive.

But it was Wolves who took the lead in the 16th minute with a well-worked goal from Friend.

Starting and finishing the move himself, Friend’s low right-footed effort diverted past former Albion and Walsall keeper Joe Murphy off Marcus Williams after the Wolves scorer fed Keogh down the left for a centre fed into Friend’s path by Sam Vokes.

Wolves were fortunate to preserve their lead when poor control by Ronald Zubar allowed Paul Hayes to race goalwards and cut the ball back to Grant McCann, whose first-time shot hit George Elokobi on the line before bouncing back to Hahnemann.

Hahnemann’s goal continued to live a charmed life as the American keeper pulled off a full-stretch, one-handed save to deny Thompson.

Wolves wasted a good chance to increase their lead on 32 minutes when Collins could only volley straight at Murphy.

And, after Niall Canavan’s bouncing header was punched clear by Hahnemann, Wolves were briefly left to rue the miss as Scunthorpe levelled six minutes before the break. Poor marking allowed striker Kevan Hurst to stab home at the far post after Thompson missed his shot from Hayes’s centre.

Wolves came under the cosh more as the half wore on but they regained the lead with a quality move a minute before the interval.

Former Scunthorpe forward Keogh – given a hero’s welcome before kick-off – calmly drew Murphy before slotting home after Friend had expertly picked up his reverse run down the inside left channel.

Wolves were soon given a rude awakening when Scunthorpe equalised for the second time two minutes after the interval. This time it was a mistake by Richard Stearman, who mis-controlled a routine ball down the channel to let in Gary Hooper for a cross converted into the roof of the net by the impressive McCann.

Scunthorpe, who will be the first competitive visitors to Cardiff’s new stadium this Saturday, looked sharp.

But the 53rd-minute introduction of Karl Henry for Friend saw Wolves switch to 4-3-3 and that was the cue for some impressive possession football from the visitors.

Wolves took the lead for the third time in the 63rd minute when the unmarked Halford glanced home from a superb free-kick delivery from Matt Jarvis.

The goal saw Wolves step up the pace, and, after Elokobi saw a 30-yarder saved, Halford’s superb reverse ball to Keogh saw Dave Edwards just fail to reach the latter’s cross. Halford was inches away when he hit the outside of the post after Sam Vokes just failed to reach Elokobi’s centre but Halford didn’t have long to make it four as he curled a beautifully flighted free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards after Keogh had been sent sprawling.

There was still time for a scramble at the other end when Michael O’Connor headed off his own player after Hahnemann had denied Adam Boyes’s initial header.

But McCarthy was delighted with some of his fringe players.

Of debutant Mendez-Laing, he said: “It’s pleasing for me and for him. He’s learning the game and he’s not ready to play in our first team yet. But it’s lovely for him to get a feel for what it’s all about.”

And the Wolves boss was also delighted with Friend and Hahnemann, adding: “George helped set up the first goal and got around the back a couple of times and I was pleased with him. But he’s learning the game. Marcus was terrific, then again, he’s an American international.”