Wolves' crowning moment - match analysis

Now they can celebrate with the trophy! Wolves might have had to wait a couple of hours to be declared champions – but it was only confirmation of what we've known for a few months now.

That the securing of the title took MK Dons to deny Brentford victory with a 2-2 draw didn't matter for the celebrating players and supporters.

We've known it since this emphatic run got into the gear in January, and 16 wins in 19 games later, the evidence is there for all to see.

Kenny Jackett's side are by some way the best side in League One this season, and, as their points total reflects, one of the most superior teams at this level for some time.

In that dizzying spell of goals and victories, Jackett's boys have hit the net 47 times and conceded just 11.

• Wolves crowned League One Champions

• Leyton Orient 1 Wolves 3 - match report and pictures

As overworked keeper Carl Ikeme said afterwards, it's not always been as easy as the league table or those statistics now suggest.

There have been many times when fine marginal decisions have swung games one way or the other.

But at almost every turn since that miserable defeat at Gillingham on January 3, Wolves have found a way to win.

Few have been as tight as none so flattering as this one, however.

But this was a time when other heroes for so long in the shadows emerged to show why they are the best at their jobs in the division.

So, step forward, Ikeme. Not too many games stand in the memory when he's played such a pivotal role – Blackpool away last season and Bradford away this campaign maybe.

But yesterday the 27-year-old shot-stopper combined agility with bravery of the highest order to prove himself as arguably the best outside the Premier League.

Indeed, the presence of the Sky TV cameras gave him the platform to be measured against the best.

And the last of the home-grown triumvirate that included Matt Murray and Wayne Hennessey produced a performance that deserved comparison alongside the finest in the land. If Ikeme showed he belongs at a higher level, then there were again plenty of convincing signs that Wolves do too, having evolved and flourished under a style of play built to last for years to come.

Long before Ikeme's heroics, they showed the swagger that has carried them to the summit and kept them there with some sublime passing and possession football that had Molineux favourites Don Goodman and Andy Thompson purring in appreciation of the transformation undertaken of their old team by Jackett and Co.

Transformation certainly isn't too strong a word for the changes that have taken place not just this season but even since these sides last met.

Back in December, Orient were top dogs while Wolves trailed them; yesterday's victory meant the distance between them is now 19 points.

Wolves have taken 50 points out of the last 57 available; Orient have taken 26. Such a gulf wasn't visible at the Matchroom Stadium yesterday as the Os snapped away at Wolves like terriers in a no-holds-barred encounter, but the visitors showed for the umpteenth time why they are where they are.

Yes, you can argue things went their way – none more so than when Richard Stearman's clear handball in the penalty area was missed by referee Neil Swarbrick after 28 minutes when they were 1-0 ahead. Not for the first time this season did a decision go for them, but full marks to them for making the most of their opportunity. Four minutes later, Bakary Sako struck to make it 2-0 to finally draw level with long-departed Leigh Griffiths at the top of the club scoring charts.

And thereafter there was a certain inevitability about the outcome.

By then Stearman had nodded Wolves in front after Danny Batth got across his man at full stretch to power a header across goal from Michael Jacobs' 17th-minute corner.

Two goals ahead, you might have been forgiven for thinking Wolves could have eased up a little. But that is not Jackett's way and it certainly wasn't the way the game was going.

Perhaps as a gesture to their own admirable but flawed title hopes, Orient were like a dog with a bone and tore at the visitors' defence either side of half-time.

It could argued that Ikeme had won the man of the match award by the interval after two smart saves, first denying David Mooney after he cut inside and finished with a low effort, then tipping over Nathan Clarke's bullet header from Dean Cox's corner.

As Orient's pressure reached its zenith on the stroke of half-time, Chris Dagnall's effort was correctly disallowed for offside after Romain Vincelot's towering header crashed down off the bar following another Cox corner.

Relieved to get to half-time just as Orient had built up a head of steam, Wolves had little respite, and, instead of trying to build on their lead, were quickly forced back as Orient hit them with wave after wave of attacks.

And after Ikeme foiled Dagnall and Mooney within the opening minute of the restart, it was little surprise when Cox sidefooted home to halve deficit 60 seconds later after Wolves failed to clear a high ball into the box.

At this point, many teams might have crumbled. But this is perhaps where Wolves showed the look of champions.

With Ikeme at his imperious best and with Kevin McDonald pulling the strings in midfield, they weathered the storm and came out fighting.

Nouha Dicko got up off the ground to hook across goal when he might have gone for it himself, before forcing keeper Jamie Jones into an acrobatic save with an angled volley struck early on the run.

In between, Wolves had another let-off when Mooney sliced well over with the goal gaping.

But in an end-to-end period, the visitors could have extended their lead when the tireless Dave Edwards' vicious angled volley was tipped away.

Then came more heroics from Ikeme, and the keeper excelled himself as he first diverted substitute Shaun Batt's effort away, was grounded for Batt's follow-up header against the bar. He the somehow turned the ball away from Batt and Danny Batth, getting an accidental boot in the nose from the latter which left blood streaming from his face for his troubles.

Thankfully for Wolves, that was Orient done as an attacking force, and with the visitors fortified by the fresh legs of Leon Clarke and particularly the lively James Henry, they saw the game out with little trouble.

Indeed, Henry's 30-yard drive that ripped past Jones in the sixth and final minute of time added on added the gloss.

Wolves fans won't care if it was flattering.

They are champions and they're on their way back.