Crewe 0 Wolves 1

Wolves maintained their unbeaten record in pre-season – but it wasn't a performance that will live long in the memory.

Nouha Dicko prevented a second successive draw against League One opposition with an opportunist strike with virtually the last kick of the game to make it four wins from five friendlies.

But after dominating the first half and creating several chances, Wolves wilted somewhat in the sun and were second best to Crewe for the second half, the home side hitting the woodwork in either half.

There was a surprise in the Wolves line-up after Bakary Sako failed to appear after being listed in the starting XI, Rajiv Van La Parra playing instead.

Wolves made virtually all the running in a dominant first half, but it was Crewe who went closest to scoring just before half-time.

Oliver Turton's rising shot from distance in first-half time added on had to be tipped over by Carl Ikeme, who had recovered from a back injury against Peterborough on Tuesday night.

From the resulting corner swung in by new signing Chris Atkinson, George Ray's header hit the bar, with Kevin McDonald covering.

Prior to that, it had been one-way traffic as Wolves dominated possession but weren't clinical enough in front of goal.

Ray slid in to deny Dave Edwards as he shaped to cut the ball back for Leon Clarke after being put through by Michael Jacobs.

Van La Parra was then only inches away with a curling shot from a tight angle after cutting inside from the left in the 17th minute.

Two minutes later, Danny Batth climbed highest at the far post but headed into the sidenetting from Scott Golbourne's cross following a short corner.

Wolves tried to punish some dallying by keeper Scott Shearer in the 26th minute, and after Van La Parra challenged him, the loose ball fell to Edwards, whose shot was deflected into the sidenetting.

From the resulting corner came their best chance of the half.

Clarke's twisting header from Jacobs' corner was headed off the line by Matt Tootle.

Despite monopolising possession, Jacobs had the visitors' only other opening of the first period on 38 when he let fly with a curling effort from 30 yards that forced a falling save from Shearer.

The last bit of the half belonged to Crewe, certainly in terms of openings as Atkinson's rising effort flew inches over before the chances for Turton and Ray.

Crewe began the second half as they ended the first – on the attack.

After Vadaine Oliver replaced Lancaster at half-time then Lee Molyneux came on for Atkinson on 51, Crewe twice went desperately close to breaking the deadlock.

First, Molyneux was inches away with a tight-angled drive from the left in the 57th minute.

Then the unmarked Turton hit the bar after Tootle cut the ball back for him a minute later.

Within 60 seconds, Wolves broke to force a golden opening of their own but with the goal at his mercy, the unmarked Clarke got his angles horribly wrong and headed wide from McDonald's cross.

But with a raft of substitutions, the heat and another mass drinks break, the action was thin on the ground for the rest of the game.

With the game petering out into what looked like a goalless stalemate, Dicko snatched an unlikely and barely deserved Wolves winner.

The Mali international pounced on a ball over the top from Lee Evans and rounded the goalkeeper, before slotting into an empty net.