Stoke City 2 Wolves 1 - match report

Karl Henry returned as captain but Wolves still crashed to their sixth successive defeat at Stoke.

On a day when Bolton, Blackburn and Wigan all lost, Terry Connor's side failed to take their chance as they equalled their worst losing run since April 1984.

The lively Michael Kightly opened the scoring in bizarre fashion in the 26th minute against the run of play as Wolves took the lead for the third game in a row.

But yet again, they couldn't hold onto it as they lost by the odd goal for the third time in a row, Robert Huth (37) and Peter Crouch (61) sealing it with strikes after the visitors failed to clear set pieces.

Wolves appeared to have justifiable complaints about Stoke's winner however as there seemed to be nothing wrong with Stephen Ward's challenge on Jermaine Pennant, who rubbed salt in the wound for the visitors by supplying the free kick for the goal.

Kightly and Matt Jarvis impressed again for the visitors, but with Steven Fletcher looking below par, there wasn't enough of a cutting edge about Wolves and it was Stoke who created most of the chances.

Connor made two changes from the side that lost 3-2 to Bolton, with Ronald Zubar and Henry in for Roger Johnson and David Davis as Richard Stearman switched to centre-back from right-back.

Henry, who made his first start since Newcastle on February 25, captained the team for the first time this season.

There was even a pre-match team huddle from the visitors for the first time in several months.

Once the game started, Henry's influence was immediate as Wolves looked more solid and composed and were well in the game.

But Stoke carried the bigger goal threat and enjoyed the better of the chances.

Jonathan Walters lobbed over the first of them in the seventh minute after getting the wrong side of Sebastien Bassong.

But the former Ipswich striker was guilty of a much bigger miss in the 23rd minute when he headed wide from no more than a yard out after Crouch nodded down Marc Wilson's deep centre.

Walters threatened again when he rounded Stearman after bursting clear, but when he eventually unleashed his shot, Bassong was perfectly placed to block.

Wolves took the lead against the run of play and in bizarre fashion.

Dave Edwards started the move in the centre circle with a pass out to Kightly on the right and when the winger played him in for the return inside the area, Edwards missed his connection but his action did enough to put off keeper Asmir Begovic and the ball sailed in.

It meant Wolves took the lead for the third game in a row and Kightly was involved in all of them after scoring against Bolton and setting up Jarvis at Norwich.

But it lasted just 11 minutes before Huth equalised when Wolves failed to clear Matthew Etherington's free kick on the left after he and Kightly had been booked following a heated clash which saw the Stoke winger raise his hands and shove the latter.

Zubar away headed away the set piece but Whelan rose ahead of Jarvis to return the ball to the danger area and Ryan Shawcross chested it down before Huth lashed home on the half volley.

Stoke then had the chances to go ahead as Wilson's dipping shot flew inches over from 30 yards and Walters could only head straight at keeper Wayne Hennessey after climbing above Ward to Etherington's cross.

Wolves started the second half with renewed impetus, and although Fletcher wasted a free kick from an excellent position by curling it straight at Begovic, the visitors missed a superb chance to take the lead again on 53 when Bassong headed wide from Kightly's free kick.

But Connor's side were made to rue their miss as Crouch put Stoke ahead for the first time when he floated a header over the full-stretch Hennessey when the England striker rose highest to Pennant's free kick.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Wolves somewhat and Stoke looked the likelier scorers as the game wore on.

But the visitors kept going and Kightly and Jarvis always looked a threat.

Kightly bamboozled three opponents on the right before crossing to Jarvis, but Ryan Shotton got there first as the winger steamed in at the far post.

Shawcross missed the chance to make it 3-1 when he headed wide from Pennant's left-footed chip on 76.

But Wolves, who were applauded off by the travelling contingent, continued to press and substitute Kevin Doyle was twice involved in moves to have grabbed an equaliser.

First his shot on the turn was gathered by Begovic, then he crossed for Stearman, who played as a makeshift striker in the latter stages, only for the defender to miss his connection with the goal at his mercy.