Wolves 1 Rotherham United 0 - Report and pictures

Weimann calmes the nerves when he put Wolves ahead just before the break, latching onto Ben Marshall's through ball before rounding the keeper and tapping into the net.

Wolves had chances to double their lead in the second half but overcame a nervous final 20 minutes - including a golden chance for Rotherham to equalise in injury time - to win their first game since January 31, but were still booed as the final whistle blew.

Analysis

The relief was palpable around Molineux.

After seven games without victory - and six defeats - any win would do for Wolves today, writes Tim Spiers.

Rotherham had played 18 away matches before turning up at Molineux. They'd lost 17 and drawn one.

But this stadium has often been a place you'd want to visit if you needed a change in fortune - just ask Blues.

It wasn't pretty in the slightest - in fact it was a dreadful game and a nervy, inhibited performance - but Wolves avoided a big banana skin and finally got the three points they have craved for so long.

This may have lacked the astonishing drama and excitement of the famous 6-4 between these teams three years ago, or the free-wheeling dominance of a 5-0 shellacking of the Millers a season later. In the grand scheme of things it mattered not a jot.

Victory was imperative, both for Lambert, who now has some much-needed breathing room, but more importantly for Wolves' survival hopes. The head coach had stated on Friday he'd take an ugly victory - and that's exactly what he got.

Lambert made three changes from the XI that drew 0-0 at Ipswich on Tuesday, dropping Matt Doherty, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and captain Danny Batth.

In came Mike Williamson - for his first Molineux appearance since November 2015 - as well as Conor Coady at right back and Helder Costa on the right wing. Andreas Weimann started up front for Wolves for the first time.

A nervous afternoon fraught with tension was predicted by many - and that's exactly what occurred in the first half.

Wolves were laboured, hesitant, uptight and unimaginative, with their inability to play through the wall of 10 Rotherham shirts behind the ball painfully obvious for all to see.

Quarterback-style passes to the flanks were what they chiefly offered from open play - a tactic Rotherham had no problem dealing with.

Wolves were also sloppy in possession - almost with dire consequences.

First Saiss - who was often dropping deep in-between the two centre halves to make Wolves' formation almost a 3-4-3 - gave the ball away and suddenly 10-goal Millers top scorer Danny Ward was clean through, but put his shot too close to Carl Ikeme.

A few minutes later it was Jack Price's turn to carelessly concede possession. Again Ward was instantly played through, streaking clear of Williamson, but it was deja vu as Ikeme again made a fairly comfortable save.

They were two huge let-offs. Wolves, who looked dangerous from set pieces but not open play, were living on the edge.

They had a dream opportunity to edge ahead when Helder Costa was brought down in the box - but the Portuguese man saw his penalty saved by Lewis Price.

It was 'meltdown on standby' time at Molineux, where the atmosphere was increasingly fraught, but seconds before half time they broke the deadlock thanks to their first genuine moment of quality when Marshall played in Weimann and he used pace and power to shrug off the defender, round the keeper and tap home.

It was a moment of striking prowess seen all-too-rarely from Wolves this season.

The second half brought a slight improvement in Wolves' play. They were on the front foot and looked to exploits the bigger gaps being left by Rotherham's defence, with the visitors now coming out of their shells.

A Costa shot from range was well saved, Saville should have picked out a team mate with a cut-back and then another Costa effort was flicked on by Edwards and saved.

On came Jon Dadi Bdovarsson for the leggy Costa and the big Icelandic striker almost ended his six-month goal drought with his first touch, latching on to a Saville ball over the top and crashing a 20-yarder just over.

Wolves needed a second goal (a heart in mouth moment when substitute Jerry Yates nearly nipped in between Hause and Ikeme suggested as much). A nervous Molineux went very quiet with around 15 minutes to go as the Millers began to venture further forward. Jon Taylor's cross-shot was dangerously deflected just wide.

It was becoming tough to watch and had 1-1 written all over it.

But a raft of substitutions changed the momentum, with Morgan Gibbs-White coming on and spurning a chance for 2-0 when his 15-yard shot was saved, while Ivan Cavaleiro made a welcome comeback from injury for the final few minutes.

It wasn't pretty at all. And the sight of Wolves keeping the ball in the corner during injury time against a team that has a goal difference of -50 was pretty galling.

But, to Lambert's disgust, they couldn't keep it there - and Rotherham soon broke to create a magnificent opportunity for 1-1 with practically the last kick. Semi Ajayi, though, somehow skied it from six yards.

There were boos at full time - for a victory - and Lambert was booed when he applauded the South Bank.

It's going to take a lot more than one scrappy win to appease the restless natives.

Key moments

10 - Saiss misplaces a pass and suddenly Ward is through on goal...but he shoots too close to Ikeme.

21 - Ward is played in again, this time after a slack Jack Price pass, but again Ikeme makes the save.

35 - Price plays down the line for Costa, he wriggles his way into the box and is taken down for a clear penalty. Costa steps up but keeper Lewis Price saves to his left.

45+1 - GOAL - Marshall slots a lovely through ball to send Weimann racing on goal. He shrugs off a challenge, rounds the keeper and taps home.

Teams

Wolves (4-3-3): Ikeme; Coady, Williamson, Hause, Saville; Price (Gibbs-White, 82), Saiss, Edwards (c); Costa (Bodvarsson, 66), Weimann, Marshall (Cavaleiro, 85). Subs: Lonergan, Doherty, Batth, Dicko.

Goal: Weimann (45+1)

Rotherham United (4-4-1-1): Price; Vaulks, Ajayi, Belaid, Mattock; Forde (Bray, 84), Smallwood (Yates, 57) Frecklington (c), Newell (Taylor, 57); Adeyemi; Ward. Subs: Bilboe, Purrington, Dawson, Warren.

Attendance: 20,077 (206 Rotherham fans)

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire)

Position in the table

20th (39 points from 35 matches)