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Pictures and analysis of Bohemians 1 Wolves 3

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Striker Leon Clarke has wasted no time in reminding Wolves he doesn't intend to be a bit-part player any longer.

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Injured and largely overlooked during the charge to the League One title, the striker's brace last night made it four goals in three halves as his team kept their 100 per cent record in pre-season.

Clarke struck twice in the first 45 minutes to remind head coach Kenny Jackett he intends to be part of the club's Championship plans, despite his manager's desire to sign another forward.

He produced another two clinical finishes, one with each foot and both from corners to give Wolves a 2-0 half-time lead.

That was extended by Nouha Dicko before a late reply from Dinny Corcoran led to a lively finish.

And on a night where first-choice keeper Carl Ikeme was excused duty because of the dusty state of the goalmouths, Jackett was just relieved to emerge without injury.

"It was a good workout for everyone with no injuries," said the boss. "The pitch wasn't as good and made the game less fluent but I was pleased with the workout."

Jackett mixed up his first and second choice XIs and gave keeper Jon Flatt a debut. "You could see a team in the first half whereas in the second period, we need to develop it and work it," he said.

"And while individuals did well, it's very difficult in a one-off when players are thrown together."

As in their first two friendlies, Wolves dominated against inferior opposition. But with a bumpy pitch there was less fluency about them.

The one continuing bright spark was the sharpness of Clarke. The burly striker seems a tad more muscular than last season.

He gave them the lead with the first attack in the sixth minute, drilling home from the edge of the six-yard box after Bakary Sako's corner was nodded back into the danger area.

Clarke grabbed his and Wolves' second goal on 29 minutes when he met Michael Jacobs' corner on the volley for a neat left-footed finish at the far post.

Clarke went desperately close to his hat-trick on 34 minutes when he raced through only for keeper Aaron Shannon to divert the ball wide.

Things started getting a bit tasty after that and Richard Stearman was booked for catching Derek Pender in the face before the Bohs right-back brought Jacobs crashing down to earn his own yellow card.

It was all change at the break as Jackett utilised his squad and replace his entire XI.

Wolves introduced Kevin Foley at right-back, Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Sam Ricketts at centre-half and Kortney Hause at left-back.

But they had time to settle as Bohs failed to trouble them, although it was a curious goal that extended the visitors' lead a minute before the hour.

Nouha Dicko collected the ball, lobbed it over his head, ran around the back, and allowed it to bounce before heading it over the line.

Bohs pulled a goal back seven minutes from time when Corcoran lobbed Aaron McCarey.

By Tim Nash

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