Wolves 2 Derby 3 - Report and pictures

The Rams completely dominated the first half and were more than deserving of a 2-0 lead through goals from Tom Ince and Darren Bent.

Wolves, who were dreadful before the break and booed by their fans, rallied in the second half and Helder Costa pulled a goal back.

But Ince restored the two-goal advantage with a controversial penalty. Wolves were then denied a spot kick of their own and, although David Edwards scored late on Wolves couldn't salvage a point.

Analysis

Welcome to the Wolves rollercoaster, Paul Lambert.

Wolves' new boss wasn't at Molineux today. Presumably he was watching on the telly - and presumably he watched the first half through his fingers, while checking the terms and conditions of his contract.

This was a crazy game of football. Wolves were utterly inept for the first 45 minutes. Clueless, shambolic and embarrassing. In fact it was a minor miracle that Derby only had a 2-0 lead to show for their total dominance at the break.

Wolves' defending would have shamed a Sunday League side. They failed to block crosses or shots, failed to mark players, failed to clear their lines properly and failed to show anything resembling an organised defence.

Danny Batth earned the brunt of the home fans' frustrations and was booed by a small minority whenever he touched the ball.

Derby hit the post and spurned other good chances as they ran riot. It was a pitiful performance and a toxic atmosphere not witnessed or heard at Molineux since the last knockings of the Championship relegation season under Dean Saunders.

What then followed was Rob Edwards' second (and last) half time team talk in temporary charge. Lambert may call on him to do a few more in future.

It was a completely different Wolves that took to the field after the break. They got a foothold in the game, began to get the basics right and finally show some pride, passion and urgency.

They may even have nicked an unlikely point. And if it wasn't for some highly questionable decisions from the referee, they probably would have.

He gave Derby a soft penalty and then denied Wolves what looked to be a clear-cut one, both in the space of a minute.

After Tom Ince's penalty, David Edwards got Wolves back in it with a late header, but it wasn't to be. Wolves paid the price for their first half ineptness and left themselves too much to do.

Lambert will be heartened by the effort and spirit shown in that second half. But it's the first half mistakes that he'll need to concentrate on in the next two weeks.

Key moments

6 - GOAL - A cross comes in from the left, Will Hughes beats Danny Batth to the ball and heads goalwards - Andy Lonergan saves but he can't stop Tom Ince slamming home the rebound.

15 - GOAL - More hesitant defending and it's 2-0. Hughes chips the ball over four players and Darren Bent crashes home a superb volley. Wonderful execution by Derby but Wolves made it far too easy for them.

27 - Bent steals a yard at the near post and heads Ince's inswinging corner inches wide.

29 - And now Lonergan has to save at his near post as a corner cannons off Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

31 - Jacob Butterfield shoots from 15 yards and it's tipped onto the post by Lonergan.

44 - Johnny Russell pings a 30-yarder just over the bar as Derby threaten yet again.

57 - Matt Doherty seizes the initiative and plays a one-two with Helder Costa before cutting back to Ivan Cavaleiro - he aims for the bottom corner but his shot is cleared off the line by Richard Keogh.

61 - GOAL - Jon Dadi Bodvarsson tees up Costa in the box and he finds the corner from close range.

70 - George Saville plays to Costa who crashes a vicious shot just past the angle of post and bar from a tight angle.

77 - GOAL - Ince wins a penalty when he goes down under a challenge from Cavaleiro. It looks like a very harsh decision. Ince steps up to send Lonergan the wrong way.

78 - Cavaleiro wants a penalty of his own. It looks like he's tripped in the box but the referee says no. He exaggerated his fall but that's another odd call from the ref. Wolves are livid.

82 - GOAL - David Edwards rises to meet Cavaleiro's corner and glances it past Scott Carson. Game on again.

87 - Ince and Hughes cut Wolves apart and the latter plays to Matej Vydra - he should score from six yards but Lonergan superbly blocks his shot and it hits the post.

Man of the match

David Edwards - the only guy who seemed to be playing in the first half. Scored his third goal in six matches.

Position in the table

18th (17 points from 16 games)

Teams

Wolves (4-3-3): Lonergan; Doherty, Iorfa, Batth (c), Borthwick-Jackson; Teixeira (Saville, 31), Coady (Wallace, 89), Edwards; Costa, Bodvarsson (Dicko, 66), Cavaleiro. Subs: Flatt, Stearman, Silvio, Saiss.

Goals: Costa (61), Edwards (87)

Derby (4-3-3): Carson; Christie (Hanson, 47), Keogh (c), Pearce, Lowe; Butterfield, Johnson, Hughes (Bryson, 90); Ince, Bent (Vydra, 84), Russell. Subs: Mitchell, Shackell, Anya, Weimann.

Goals: Ince (6, 77), Bent (14)

Attendance: 19,858 (1,309 Derby fans)

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)