Oxford United 0 Wolves 1

Another Leon Clarke goal helped an unfamiliar Wolves side maintain their unbeaten pre-season record tonight.

Of the 'old guard', Stephen Ward made a surprise return to action for Wolves along with Kevin Foley and David Davis.

Ward's call up came because head coach Kenny Jackett wanted to improve the balance of the experience of the side against a competitive Oxford outfit.

Davis returned to the fray after his move to Barnsley broke down, while Foley is still waiting for interest in him.

For the rest, it was a case of trying to impress Wolves boss Kenny Jackett.

In a starting XI featuring eight players with claims for 'homegrown' status, there were full debuts for Dominic Iorfa and Eusebio Bancessi.

And alongside Ethan Ebanks-Landell, who captained the side for the first team for the first time, the powerfully-built Iorfa suggested he could be challenging for a senior place in the future.

Iorfa, who spent the latter part of last season on loan at Shrewsbury, was a muscular presence in both penalty areas.

As expected in a team that hadn't played together, it was difficult to establish any sort of pattern about this unfamiliar Wolves team.

But Iorfa showed positional awareness to make several blocks in his own box, and challenges in both.

It was Iorfa who had the first half chance but could only head over when under pressure at the far post from James Henry's corner.

Oxford threatened with a snapshot from Danny Rose but luckily for Wolves, it was straight down the throat of keeper Aaron McCarey.

Clarke gave notice of what was to follow in the 27th minute when his attempted block on Joe Riley's clearance had keeper George Long making a falling save.

And within a minute, he had notched his sixth goal in as many friendlies.

Seizing on Bancessi's through ball, he made an angle for himself with his left foot and buried a shot past Long.

It was an opportunity taken with all the confidence that comes with the smoothness of his chance-taking in pre-season, which has made a mockery of his struggles in front of goal from January to May.

The goal seemed to settle Wolves down and they gained in confidence with their passing as the game went on.

But it was Oxford who went closest before the break when Danny Hylton skied over from close range after Aaron McCarey couldn't hold a fierce shot from Callum O'Dowda.

Wolves had more control of the game after the break and it was little surprise when they threatened to increase their lead in the 52nd minute.

The chance came from the lively James Henry, who steamed in from the left to flash a first-time effort goalwards only for Long to tip over from Ward's centre.

Soon after Liam McAlinden should have looked up earlier when Clarke steamed in unmarked to his right.

But by the time his run was spotted, the cross came in behind him and the chance was lost.

Making his first start of the summer, Foley did his cause for a bit-part role in this season's Championship campaign no harm with an accomplished performance in his favoured right-back role.

Davis showed how much he needed this return to action, even if he lacks the fluency and quickness of thought of the two younger midfielders ahead of him now, in Jack Price and Lee Evans.

Fresh legs meant Oxford had more of the ball in the latter stages after introducing four substitutes.

But they struggled to penetrate a well organised Wolves defence, who had little trouble dealing with them.

And Wolves emerged with a second successive clean sheet and their fifth win in sixth pre-season friendlies as they prepare to wheel out the big guns on their return to Molineux with Saturday's final warm-up outing against Celta Vigo.

(Video courtesy of Wolves FC)