Wolves v Bristol City - five talking points

Kenny Jackett's young team won their second successive home game to send their fans home happy.

It had been a torturous first half at Molineux, with chances at a premium, but despite being pegged back in the 77th minute Wolves showed spirit and heart to win the points.

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers picks out five talking points after a welcome Molineux victory.

Wolves came close to signing three left-backs in January.

Two internationals – Francois Moubandje (Switzerland) and Nicolai Boilesen (Denmark) turned them down, while a deal for a third player, believed to be Albion's Sebastian Pocognoli, didn't cross the line.

At this point you might call Wolves' failure in the transfer market a blessing in disguise.

Doherty, fast becoming this generation's answer to Andy Thompson as a right-footed left-back, was superb again last night, as he has been for two months now.

This time his contribution was a match-winning one, with an assist and a last-minute winner.

And he may be giving food for thought to Thelwell and co as to their potential dealings this summer.

Doherty's confidence is obvious. The manner in which he played a one-two with Michal Zyro, took a defender on and crossed to Nathan Byrne for the slapstick opener (straight out of the Frank Spencer school of finishing) was the action of a man at the top of his game.

He's clearly loving his football. When asked how it felt to score the winner, a beaming Doherty replied: "That's why we play the game."

Jackett was, as always, tight-fisted with his praise, but acknowledged Doherty's form and challenged him to become a leader in this new-look Wolves team.

As the Wolves boss said, Doherty's time is now.

The unforeseen late drama was in stark contrast to what had gone before it.

Particularly the utterly lousy, soul-destroying first half – a vapid, vacuous 45 minutes of pure dirge which could conceivably be used as an especially excruciating form of torture by the CIA.

The alleged 17,000 who witnessed it were bored to tears.

Chants of "boring, boring, boring" were ringing in the players' ears as they left the field.

The second half was an improvement – it certainly couldn't get any worse – with Zyro sparking Wolves into life.

His return was a welcome sight. Instantly Wolves' attacking options have been vastly improved by the Pole's comeback. If Wolves are to enjoy a productive final 10 games of the campaign, it's a decent bet that Zyro will be the catalyst.

Yes, 10 games to go. Wolves remain marooned in mid-table, 10 point off the top six, 11 clear of relegation.

The fanciful hope is that if they can pick up three or four wins in their next five matches (Blues, Ipswich and Blackburn visit Molineux and Wolves travel to MK Dons and Burnley, with only the latter fixture looking unwinnable) then the season won't peter out.

And this last-gasp success is the kind of victory on which momentum can be built.

Bristol City Lee Johnson was apoplectic at full time.

Enraged by Danny Batth whacking the ball out for a throw, rugby-style, deep in the Robins' half instead of kicking it to their keeper, Johnson levelled accusations of unsporting behaviour unbefitting of an historic club like Wolves.

"I am angry man," Johnson fumed, minutes after the two benches had exchanged words in a tempestuous finale to the game.

It smacked of sour grapes. Jackett nonchalantly brushed Johnson's claims aside, saying: "It's just splitting hairs."

Cheeky from Batth, yes, but Johnson's own team could also be accused of time wasting in those closing minutes.

The average age of the outfield players who finished the game was just 21.

It rapidly decreased as the game went on, with McDonald (aged 27), Joe Mason (24) and Byrne (23) replaced by Zyro (23), debutant Connor Hunte (19) and Bright Enobakhare (18).

His options may be limited right now, but it was still a show of faith by Jackett to unleash the exuberant teenagers in the dying minutes.

Hunte, who has impressed for the under-21s this season, made an instant positive impact, cutting inside and playing a one-two before firing a deflected shot wide.

The average age can be viewed as a positive or a negative.

But, particularly with the club up for sale, Wolves fans can expect more of the same from now on.

The lesson Wolves simply have to learn – and Jackett hinted as much the other day – is that they need experienced pros alongside these young pups.

The balance has been way off this season, to the extent that Dominic Iorfa and Kortney Hause (still both aged only 20), aren't necessarily thought of as the fledgling, developing youngsters that they are.

It's asking a lot, and it's a high-risk strategy in a division that has seen spending rates soar in the past year, but if these players do develop (and with the highly-rated likes of Niall Ennis and Connor Ronan to come through in the next year or two) and are complimented with experience, there is light at the end of the current darkness.