Wolves 4 Notts County 2

Wolves had big guns Steven Fletcher and Kevin Doyle to thank to finally scraping into the last 16 of the Carling Cup after overcoming 10-man Notts County in extra-time.

Fletcher and Doyle – with his first of the season - scored in the first period of extra-time to give Mick McCarthy's men a two-goal cushion after they struggled to open up the League One side.

Even then, it was a tense final five minutes for Wolves after Kevin Smith made it 3-2 in the 114th minute.

But Doyle finally made sure by making it 4-2 in the 120th minute, finishing off Adlene Guedioura's square pass after Fletcher and substitute Geoffrey Mujangi Bia worked a one-two on the left.

The double blast from their celebrated strikeforce – who both started on the bench - signalled a turnaround by Wolves, who trailed to Lee Hughes' 57th minute looping header until the turning point eight minutes from the end of normal time.

That was when Nenad Milijas converted his second successive Carling Cup penalty after Liam Chilvers dragged down Christophe Berra and was sent off.

Wolves controlled the first-half and created virtually all the chances.

But it was County who had the ball in the net after just two minutes and nine seconds, when Hughes converted Ben Davies' free kick.

Thankfully for Wolves, the assistant's flag had gone up for offside to deny the former Albion striker.

Wolves soon found their feet and Marcus Bent, making his first start for the club, should have shot after cutting inside instead of opting to pass to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and the ball was cut out.

Milijas hit the top of the bar with a flicked header, as the visitors stood off from Greg Halford's long throw with 10 minutes gone.

Midway through the first-half, Halford then should have done better than blaze over from the edge of the area after Adlene Guedioura's chip forward had been touched back by Bent.

Wolves hit the bar for a second time in the 37th minute from George Elokobi's header, after County had failed to clear Milijas' corner.

The home side continued to press and Guedioura was inches away with a trademark fierce drive after exchanging passes with Kevin Foley.

County's only effort of the half came a minute before the break, when Steven Mouyokolo made a hash of a long kick by goalkeeper Rob Burch and Hughes latched onto the loose ball only for Wayne Hennessey to beat away his curling shot.

Wolves were first to show after the break when a searching ball from Halford put Bent through, but the on-loan Birmingham forward's first touch was poor and the ball squirted clear.

In truth, the hosts took a while to get going in the second half and County took advantage when Hughes headed them in front in the 57th minute.

The ex-Albion man rose highest to glance a looping header beyond the stranded Hennessey into the net from Mike Edwards' whipped-in cross.

Hughes further enraged the Wolves fans by needlessly running over to celebrate in front of them with his shirt over his head – revealing a slogan saying 'boing boing' and was promptly booked.

Wolves immediately tried to hit back and Foley dragged an effort wide and Milijas' volley was blocked by the flailing leg of Burch who was wrongfooted.

But only Hennessey's heels prevented Hughes scoring a second goal on 76 minutes, after John Spicer put him clean through for an angled shot.

Perhaps there was some relief among the deafening catcalls when Hughes was finally substituted in the 80th minute, needlessly lifting his shirt up again to further infuriate the home support.

Wolves were getting increasingly desperate and Guedioura saw a drilled effort deflected wide for the first of three successive corners.

But McCarthy's side finally found a way through when Miljas slammed home the penalty.

And they grabbed a vital lifeline when Fletcher converted in the 92nd minute, sidefooting home after Doyle burst clear and unselfishly squared after Jon Harley gave the ball away on the halfway line.

Doyle made it 3-1, tapping home after Burch spilled Fletcher's shot following a driving run before Smith and Doyle again exchanged goals at the death.

However, Wolves held on to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2003.