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Wolves 0 Charlton 0 - Report and pictures

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Disappointing Wolves extended their unbeaten run to seven league games but failed to make the leap into the play-off zone in a stalemate at Molineux.

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Chances were thin on the ground for Kenny Jackett's side throughout as they failed to force a serious save from keeper Marko Dmitrovic, although Andre Bikey headed off the line from man of the match Rajiv Van La Parra.

There was an improved second half from the hosts when substitute Nouha Dicko joined Benik Afobe up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

But it was Carl Ikeme who was the busier of the two keepers as he foiled Igor Ventokele and sub Tony Watt as the hosts made it three shutouts in a row.

Wolves controlled most of the game but failed to show enough imagination and penetration, Kortney Hause's header drifting just wide nd Afobe's diving effort straight at the keeper the closest they went.

Jackett made one change to the line-up that beat Blackpool 2-0 last week as Benik Afobe came in for Nouha Dicko up front.

Afobe was making his first start as Dicko was joined on the bench by fit-again Scott Golbourne, who has finally shaken off a persistent foot injury.

There was no place on the bench for Leon Clarke at a time when Wolves are believed to be trying to sign another attacking player.

The game got off to a slow start and the pace rarely raised below the chilly temperatures in a largely uneventful first half.

Wolves had little trouble containing the threat that Charlton posed, indeed the visitors failed to even produce any effort on goal.

But the hosts struggled to find the imagination to break down an improved defence that looked better than their record of nine games without a win suggested.

All of Wolves attacks seemed to stem from or involve Rajiv Van La Parra.

And it was from the flying Dutchman that Jackett's side threatened first in the second minute.

Van La Parra used his pace to wriggle to the byline and chiselled out a cross to the far post, but James Henry couldn't do any more than tentatively head it into the sidenetting at the far post.

Kortney Hause of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tal Ben Haim of Charlton Athletic.

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Ikeme, Iorfa (Doherty 74), Stearman, Batth (c), Hause (Golbourne 46), Price, McDonald, Van La Parra, Henry (Dicko 46), Edwards, Afobe.

Substitutes not used: Kuszczak (GK), Evans, Ebanks-Landell, Jacobs.

Charlton (4-4-2): Dmitrovic, Bikey, Gudmundsson, Harriot (Watt 69), Vetokele (Church 77), Buyens, Veltokovic (Gomez 82), Solly (c), Fox, Cousins, Ben Haim.

Substitutes not used: Etheridge (GK), Wilson, Wiggins, Ahearne-Grant.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)

Attendance: 23,487 [/breakout]

Wolves fans had to wait until the 18th minute until the next sight of goal, when Dave Edwards flashed a fierce, first-time drive narrowly wide from outside the box after Kevin McDonald passed it short.

Ten minutes later, Dominic Iorfa burst forward from the middle onto a square pass from Jack Price but the finish didn't match the run as he fired wide.

Wolves' next threat, in the 36th minute, was their closest of the half and arrived via a Henry free kick swung in from the left, Kortney Hause heading a few feet wide.

Two minutes before half-time, McDonald split the defence for Afobe but the pass was just too strong.

Jackett sensed the need for change and made a double switch at half-time, with Dicko and Scott Golbourne on for Henry and Hause.

It meant Wolves switched to a 4-4-2 formation, with Dave Edwards drifting to wide left and Dicko joining Afobe up front.

The home side immediately looked more of a threat and went close when his back header was nodded off the line by Andre Bikey from Golbourne's free kick on 48.

Charlton quickly broke to force their first save of the game within a minute when Callum Harriott surged forward and saw his low drive palmed away by Carl Ikeme.

The next chance didn't arrive until the 65th minute, when Van La Parra squeezed in a prodded effort from Iorfa's squared pass.

The game was suddenly opening up and seconds later the visitors broke away through Vetokele and it took a brave challenge from Ikeme to deny him as Golbourne hacked away the loose ball as Gudmundsson lurked for the open goal.

Wolves had their former Charlton loan keeper to thank again on 72 however as substitute Tony Watt beat Danny Batth and Richard Stearman far too easily to earn a one-on-one with the keeper blocking with his feet at the near post.

Wolves continued to struggle to create clear chances but Afobe should have done better on 86 when his diving header from Golbourne's cross was too close to the keeper.

Two minutes later, McDonald sent a rising drive into the South Bank after Golbourne's free kick was cleared.

There was late drama at the death when Dicko went down under what appeared to be a push from Tal Ben Haim.

Bikey reacted by pushing the Wolves striker and both him and Dicko were booked as both sides were punished for not having enough bite in front of goal.

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