Express & Star

Jackett: We shall fight to the death

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Kenny Jackett insists Wolves will fight to the death for a play-off place despite admitting they were beaten by a "ruthless" Middlesbrough side last night.

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A second successive defeat after they were beaten 2-1 at the Riverside left eighth-placed Wolves three points off the play-off zone with three games left.

Jackett's side must effectively beat Ipswich on Saturday lunchtime to continue their play-off challenge after Derby beat relegated Blackpool 4-0 and Ipswich overcame Cardiff 3-1.

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Brentford's 1-0 reverse at Sheffield Wednesday left them seventh and on the same points as Wolves.

And Jackett said: "I felt we played against a Middlesbrough side that were ruthless in both boxes.

"They made a great start and we were disappointed to concede twice early on but after that we showed a lot of character and spirit and we fought all the way to the end.

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"That spirit is something we must continue show in the last three games. Two of those remaining games are at Molineux where there will be a tremendous atmosphere and we have to use that to our advantage because the opportunity is still there and the fighting spirit certainly will be."

Middlesbrough's sixth straight home win – one-time Molineux target Patrick Bamford has scored in each one - meant Wolves can't now catch third-placed Boro, who have 81 points.

Goals in the first 11 minutes from Jelle Vossen and Bamford left Jackett's side with a mountain to climb.

But Bakary Sako's 14th goal of the season – to make it his highest scoring in English football – in the 53rd minute gave the visitors hope of getting back on level terms.

Rajiv van La Parra hit the bar on 73 but that was as close as Wolves came to an equaliser as Bamford also hit the woodwork in the seventh minute of time added on when he chipped Carl Ikeme.