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Wolves 1 Ipswich Town 1 - Report and pictures

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Wolves' play-off ambitions are hanging by a thread after they failed to beat Ipswich Town at a sunny Molineux today.

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In a result that suited Mick McCarthy's side more than Kenny Jackett's men, Wolves were the more dominant team after the break.

It followed a scrappy first-half, where the visitors went ahead through Richard Stearman's 22nd minute own goal.

Benik Afobe levelled within five minutes of the restart with his 12th goal in 19 games for Wolves and 31st of the season, after Dave Edwards hit the post just before half-time.

But Wolves struggled to create serious chances and were left wondering whether they had done enough to keep their top-six hopes alive, as they stopped the rot after two defeats.

Jackett made two changes to the side beaten 2-1 at Middlesbrough on Tuesday, as he reverted to a similar attacking side to the one that finished the game at the Riverside Stadium.

Scott Golbourne and Nouha Dicko replaced Kortney Hause and Jack Price, which saw Edwards drop into a deeper midfield position after starting in the number 10 role.

Ipswich kicked off in sunshine attacking the South Bank and created the first chance after three minutes.

Daryl Murphy turned Danny Batth and squeezed in a left foot shot that sailed wide, with goalkeeper Carl Ikeme at full stretch.

Wolves had a decent spell leading up the opening goal, with Dicko twice winning corners off former Molineux defender Christophe Berra.

But the home side lacked the quality in their final ball, with crosses from Rajiv van La Parra and Bakary Sako either overhit or not reaching their target when they broke.

Dicko also got himself one on one with Berra on the run but knocked the ball too wide and the Scot was able to get back to concede a throw-in.

Against the run of play, Ipswich took a bizarre and fortuitous lead.

Although Tommy Smith seemed to get the first touch, there was no doubting the final contact came off Stearman.

He had a scoreless 15-match loan spell at Ipswich in 2012-13 and put through his own net here, misguiding his header from Teddy Bishop's corner six yards out as it sailed past the helpless Ikeme.

Dave Edwards of Wolverhampton Wanderers stands dejected at full time.

Goals: Stearman (og) 21, Afobe 50.

Wolves (4-4-1-1): Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth, Stearman, Golbourne; Van La Parra (Henry 64), Edwards, McDonald, Sako, Afobe, Dicko.

Substitutes not used: McCarey (GK), Doherty, Doyle, Price, Ebanks-Landell, Jacobs.

Ipswich (4-4-2): Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Mings, Parr (Anderson 66), Bishop (Hunt 74), Skuse, Tabb, Murphy, Sears (Wood 83).

Substitutes not used: Gerken (GK) Fryers, Chaplow, Williams.

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton).

Attendance: 23,409[/breakout]

The goal seemed to take the sting out of the game somewhat and there was a notable drop in tempo and atmosphere.

Wolves seemed to lack the ideas to trouble Ipswich, who were going for their third straight win.

And when they did get a sight of goal, the visitors were back in numbers, as was the case when Dicko looked up in the 33rd minute and saw his fierce drive cannon off Berra.

Either side of Wolves best chance of the half, Ipswich had two players booked for cynical fouls.

First Jonathan Parr was yellow carded for bringing down Benik Afobe on 36 then Jay Tabb went the same way for a much cruder late lunge.

The latter left Dicko beating the ground in pain then needing lengthy treatment and hobbling off for a short while before resuming action.

In between, Edwards adjusted his body to volley goalwards and Bartosz Bialkowski got a finger to tip it onto the post.

There were two minutes of added time after the Dicko injury, but the game had descended into a scrappy affair.

There were boos from all sides to greet the half-time whistle, reserved for referee Stuart Attwell for not awarding heavier punishment to Tabb.

Wolves immediately attacked from the start of the second half and soon gained their reward.

Dicko should have got his unmarked header on target from inside the six-yard box from Sako's deep free kick within seconds of the restart.

But Wolves were level when Afobe slid in at the far post to stab home from a yard out.

Van La Parra turned onto Kevin McDonald's pass in the inside left position, his shot looping up off a defender and squirt across goal.

Wolves went on to dominate much of the play but they struggled to create anything worthwhile, as Jackett introduced James Henry for van La Parra on 64.

And after Paul Anderson replaced Parr for the visitors on 66, it was Freddie Sears for Ipswich who had the next sight of goal, on 70 minutes.

The former West Ham youngster burst forwards following Golbourne's poor clearing header but could only roll his shot wide.

Stephen Hunt arrived to a mixture of first boos but mostly cheers, as he returned to his old club as a 74th minute substitute for Bishop.

And he tried to threaten with one of his first touches as he let fly from 25 yards but it flew comfortably over the bar.

Wolves continued to press but Ipswich were equal to everything they could throw at them.

Dicko saw a shot blocked by Berra and was then crowded out by the defender and Tommy Smith to allow goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski to collect as the hosts pushed for the winner.

And at the death, the flying Dicko just failed to get his head to McDonald's wayward angled volley.

But Wolves were left thinking that a point might not be enough to keep their play-off ambitions alive as they prepare to wait for their rivals results to filter through later on.

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