Wolves 3 Huddersfield 0 - Report and pictures

Two goals from Benik Afobe and another from Kevin McDonald gave Wolves a comfortable victory over Huddersfield Town at Molineux.

[gallery]

McDonald's brilliant opener gave Wolves a scarcely deserved half time lead, but they were much improved after the break.

And Afobe, scoreless in his previous four matches, ended the longest goal drought of his Wolves career with two second-half goals.

His first finished a good team move from Adam Le Fondre's pass, with the second seeing him latch onto a perfect through ball from the in-form McDonald.

The game wasn't without its controversy though, as Le Fondre was booked for diving when he appeared to have been brought down by Huddersfield goalkeeper Jed Steer in the penalty box.

The victory, a second successive 3-0 triumph, saw Wolves move into the play-offs positions before the day's 3pm kick-offs.

It's a remarkable turnaround after their poor results in the opening weeks of the season.

Sheyi Ojo was rewarded for successive good displays from the substitutes' bench with a start.

Wolves: Martinez; Iorfa, Batth, Hause, Golbourne; Henry (Doherty 87), McDonald, Price, Ojo (Byrne 60); Afobe; Le Fondre (Edwards 83).

Subs not used: Ikeme, Ebanks-Landell, Wallace, Enobakhare.

Huddersfield Town: Steer, Cranie, Ward, Lynch, Davidson, Scannell, Whitehead, Huws (Hogg 80), Carayol (Wells 58), Bunn (Paterson 80), Miller.

Subs not used: Allinson, Smith, Hudson, Billing.

Attendance: 18,166

Referee: Christopher Kavanagh.[/breakout]

It came in place of Nathan Byrne who dropped to the bench in boss Kenny Jackett's only change from the side that beat Fulham 3-0.

David Edwards, back earlier than expected with a knee injury, was also on the bench.

But there was no room for former Huddersfield man Conor Coady, who was available again after suspension but left out of the squad.

At a quiet Molineux, Huddersfield made the early running with Mustapha Carayol cutting menacingly inside from the left and forcing a diving save from Emiliano Martinez on six minutes.

Just a minute later former Manchester City youngster Harry Bunn snatched at a free 15-yard volley, sending it skywards as Wolves were put on the back foot.

Ex-Albion striker Ishmael Miller fired over and there was a nervous scramble from a Huddersfield corner.

The Terriers continued to impress, with Wolves' nervous distribution from defence not helping the nerves of the home supporters.

Wolves engineered a couple of half chances, with some ping pong from a Henry cross seeing the ball hit Ojo but not fall kindly, before the same player sent a shot straight at Steer.

Then on 23 minutes came the first moment of real quality from Wolves - and how.

McDonald picked up the ball in midfield, skipped past a challenge and, with space opening up ahead, played a one-two with Henry before picking his spot in the bottom corner from 20 yards.

It was the Scot's third goal in seven league games, after not finding the net once last season, and continued his sparkling recent form after finally signing that new contract.

Wolves had been subdued up to that point and the goal didn't really change the status quo, with sloppy passes defining their play.

Back came Huddersfield, with Bunn nicking the ball off a careless Golbourne near the corner flag and playing to Miller, whose snap-shot was held by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

And then Emyr Huws ghosted into the box, his run untracked, before cutting inside and drawing a decent save from the Argentine shot-stopper as the Terriers ended the half on top.

It was a first period desperately low on quality and entertainment, with Huddersfield creating the better chances but Wolves taking one of the few they carved out through McDonald's moment of magic.

Jackett's team began the second period in a much more purposeful mood, Ojo whistling an ambitious shot from the left of the box just over the bar.

Then Iorfa latched onto Afobe's pass, raced to the byline and sent a wonderful cross towards Henry, whose header bounced across goal and fractionally wide.

Wolves were on top with Afobe, enduring his longest ever Wolves drought having not scored in his previous four appearances, threatening.

He unleashed a 25-yard rocket that Steer finger-tipped wide, before substitute Byrne replaced Ojo.

Iorfa was a constant menace down the right, producing stepovers, darting runs and excellent crosses, with two in succession causing problems for the Huddersfield defence.

[related_posts title="More on Wolves"]

Wolves needed a second goal and it duly arrived on 66 minutes when their pressure finally told.

McDonald chipped over the top to Le Fondre, who put a low ball across goal on a plate for Afobe, who slammed home from close range.

Three minutes later it looked as though Huddersfield's afternoon was going from bad to worse, when Le Fondre appeared to be brought down by Steer in the box.

Steer began to walk from the pitch, expecting a red card and a penalty to Wolves, but referee Christopher Kavanagh surprised everyone by booking Le Fondre.

Replays showed there was contract between the pair and, while Le Fondre certainly made a meal of it, the decision appeared to be harsh.

Undeterred, Wolves continued to dominate in what was a much improved second-half display.

[comments_cta header="What do you think?" text= "How did you rate the Wolves performance today?" button="Log in and start commenting"]

Henry sent a free kick just past the post and then attempted to beat Steer with a cute 20 yard chip, which dropped only marginally over the bar.

Huddersfield, unfortunate to be 2-0 down based purely on the number of chances they'd created, didn't give up, and substitute Nahki Wells tested Martinez twice in a minute with good efforts.

The game was petering out, with both teams making late substitutions, Jackett sending on Edwards and Matt Doherty for Le Fondre and Henry.

But there was still time to cap things off with another superb Wolves goal two minutes from time.

McDonald, deep in his own half in the right-back position, dug out a perfect long ball through for Afobe to chase - he raced for goal and slotted past Steer with a cool finish.

Afobe ran back towards McDonald as he celebrated, acknowledging the assist as the two men back in form embraced.