Wolves 2 Sheffield Wed 1 - Report and pictures

A comfortable 2-1 victory against a top-six team - albeit one that made 10 changes - finally brought a smile to the faces of their long-suffering supporters, writes Tim Spiers at Molineux.

At times, Wolves were vibrant, coherent in their play and aggressive going forward, while all along a vociferous home crowd cheered them on.

These were notions and emotions many had forgotten existed when it came to watching Wolves. Four turgid 0-0 draws at home had drained the enthusiasm from the Molineux hordes.

But Wolves ended that astonishing goal drought and avoided an unwanted Football League record of five consecutive home 0-0s in the process.

They did so as early as the sixth minute when the superb Matt Doherty saw his cross diverted into the net by defender Michael Dawson.

Like buses, after 366 minutes after a goal at Molineux, another came 29 minutes later when George Saville lashed home after a cross from, yes, Doherty.

The Irish full-back scored the last goal here, against Bristol City on March 8, which was when Wolves last won at Molineux, and must be a strong contender for Player of the Season.

He also, harshly, was adjudged to have handled in the box in the final minute of normal time, but the resulting penalty didn't take the gloss off a pleasing finale for Kenny Jackett's team.

How pleasing it was to hear the home fans in fine voice. They've been through the wringer this season and deserve better.

Wolves (4-4-1-1): Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth (c), Hause, Doherty; Wallace (Le Fondre 45), Coady, Price, Saville; Henry, Mason (Edwards 76).

Subs not used: Martinez, Deslandes, Byrne, Hunte, Enobakhare.

Goals: Turner (OG 6), Saville (35)

Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): Wildsmith; Palmer, Sasso, Turner, Helan. McGeady, McGugan, Semedo (c), Matias; Nuhiu (Stobbs, 79), Lucas Joao.

Subs not used: Price, Loovens, Lopez, Hunt, Bannan, Hooper.

Goal: McGugan (pen 90)

Attendance: 25,488 (4,374 Sheff Wed fans)

It would be unwise to take this victory - and performance - as a sign that things will improve in 2016-17, but with the right additions and the return of key injured players there is surely some hope.

Jackett made two changes from the team that drew 1-1 at Nottingham Forest last weekend, recalling Kortney Hause and Jack Price in place of Sylvain Deslandes and Dave Edwards, who dropped to the bench.

Adam Le Fondre returned to the bench after recovering from a side muscle injury, with Bradley Reid dropping out, while there was no place for Kevin McDonald or Bjorn Sigurdarson.

In front of the biggest Molineux crowd of the season there was a carnival atmosphere in the sunshine, with Sheffield Wednesday adding to the noise with their 4,300 travelling fans.

The noise and positivity translated onto the pitch, with Wolves producing one of their best halves of football of the season. They had the ball in the net just five minutes in but Wallace was flagged offside.

However, just a minute later the remarkable Molineux goal drought ended when Doherty played the ball across goal and Turner sliced it past his own goalkeeper via the post.

Wallace was enjoying himself down the right side of a 4-4-1-1 formation (with James Henry playing behind Joe Mason) and his cross was just ahead of Henry, as Wolves exerted their authority.

They had a scare on 15 minutes when Lewis McGugan drove a powerful free kick under the wall and goalkeeper Carl Ikeme had to pull off a tremendous reaction save to push it to safety.

Wednesday went close again soon after when Aiden McGeady took aim from 20 yards - it took a wicked deflection off Hause and curled inches wide in a big heart in mouth moment for the home fans.

Back came Wolves through Wallace, who embarked on a driving run from deep and saw his shot from just outside the box deflected wide.

Wolves were playing with purpose, desire and attacking aggression - and their second goal arrived 10 minutes before half-time.

Saville - who a minute earlier had hit the post with an 18-yard shot after a corner was cleared to him - lashed home from close range after more excellent work from Doherty near the left byline.

It was Saville's fifth goal in 19 appearances since he returned to the team in January.

After 366 minutes without a goal at Molineux, the stadium had witnessed two in just 29 minutes in an enjoyable half of football.

There was a change at half time when Wallace - who presumably had picked up a knock - was replaced by Adam Le Fondre.

That switch saw Henry move to the right wing, with Le Fondre playing behind Mason in what could be his last appearance for the club after a season-long loan from Cardiff City.

There was a let off just after the break when Atdhe Nuhiu headed over from close range.

After plenty of action in the first half the second period was a more sedate affair, with Wednesday the more likely goalscorers.

Jeremy Helan was back in the Wednesday team after a recent eight-game loan spell with Wolves.

He was superbly denied by Ikeme who advanced from his line to claim after Helan had played a one-two to get past Dominic Iorfa.

Hause headed a Saville corner wide and then Wednesday right-back Liam Palmer flashed a shot past the far post from the right of the area.

Batth also made a great block from a McGeady shot, as the visitors pressed forward.

It was a dull final 20 minutes - but referee Darren Bond livened things up when he harshly adjudged Doherty to have handled a cross one minute from time.

McGugan sent Ikeme the wrong way and a nervous three minutes of injury time followed, but a couple of crucial blocks from Doherty and Ikeme preserved the final-day points for Wolves.