Express & Star

Wolves 2 Brentford 1 - Report and pictures

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Ten-man Wolves survived a late scare to make it back-to-back league wins at home to Brentford in the Championship.

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After goalkeeper Carl Ikeme had tipped Jota's shot onto the post, Nouha Dicko gave Wolves the lead with his second goal in as many games.

Bakary Sako hit the bar and a free-kick saved before a James Tarkowski own goal doubled the home side's lead.

But after Kevin McDonald saw red for a second bookable offence, Danny Batth's late own goal ensured a nervy finish.

Ikeme saved brilliantly from Moses Odubajo and Jonathan Douglas hit the post for the visitors deep into added time as Wolves clung on.

With Wolves having performed so well in their 1-0 win at Watford on Boxing Day, Jackett named an unchanged starting line-up.

Jota had scored Brentford's fourth in last month's rout and only the agility of Ikeme prevented him from drawing first blood here.

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The Wolves goalkeeper getting his fingertips to the winger's right foot half volley and tipping it onto the post.

It proved a big moment as 90 seconds later Wolves were ahead. Sako flicked the ball on and Dicko raced clear to finish past Bees custodian David Button for his sixth goal of the season.

That was it for attempts on goal until Alex Pritchard let fly with an effort from distance which went well wide of Ikeme's goal.

Kevin McDonald was much closer with a deflected effort which had Button scrambling.

From the corner Sako went closer still, exchanging passes from McDonald before moving infield and unleashing a shot from 25 yards which was deflected up and onto the bar.

Pritchard nodded wide from Odubajo's cross and as the visitors began to enjoy a stranglehold on possession, was denied by a fine block after meeting his knockdown with a fierce drive from just inside the box.

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Wolves were starting to hang on as half-time approached and only a fine Ikeme save prevented Iorfa from putting through his own net as the full-back flicked on a Pritchard cross.

Yet Wolves could have seen their lead doubled in stoppage time as Sako drilled a free-kick under the wall, Button saved with his legs and was relieved to see the rebound go to safety.

Alan Judge shot straight at Ikeme in the opening minute of the second half, before Sako sliced wide at a corner.

The pattern of the game was similar to in the first half, with Brentford enjoying the lion's share of possession but Wolves looking dangerous on the counter.

Nouha Dicko of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0.

In one such move, Edwards saw his cross deflected just out of the reach of Dicko before van La Parra's shot on goal was blocked.

Eventually they made one count. Dave Edwards sprang clear down the right and crossed for Rajiv van La Parra.

He thundered a header against the underside the bar with McDonald prodding the ball home on the follow up despite the best efforts by Tarkowski on the line to keep it out.

The goal was somewhat harshly awarded as an own goal to the defender and having lost the credit, McDonald's day then got worse.

He was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Judge meaning Wolves played the final 14 minutes a man down.

Sako almost gave them breathing room but saw his drive flash inches wide of the far post.

A nervy final few minutes then ensued after Bidwell's cross deflected off Batth and into the net.

Ikeme denied Odubajo when he pushed the full-back's drive wide before Douglas flicked a header onto the post in the dying seconds.