Young defender crocked for Wolves

Young Wolves defender Johnny Dunleavy faces a battle to play again this season after suffering a knee injury as a youthful side went down 3-0 to Crewe at Compton.

Dunleavy, one of seven Academy scholars offered professional terms to 2010, suffered medial knee ligament damage in a game where Nigel Quashie made a 90-minute comeback.

Mark Little also had a full outing in his first start since a cartilage operation in October, while 15-year-old Zeli Ismail made a second appearance in the development side, coming on as a 67th minute for on-loan Ujpest winger Krisztian Simon.

But Quashie, back from a chest infection, and Wolves were no match for a slick Crewe side, who missed a golden chance to take a fifth minute lead when Kelvin Mellor fired over an open goal from six yards.

Wolves replied with a header from defender Danny Batth saved by keeper Steve Collis, before striker Sam Winnall was unable to make the most of a strong run from deep.

But Crewe looked the more likely scorers and Wolves defender Mark Connolly was forced into a goalline clearance in the 20th minute to deny Joel Grant.

Wolves attempted to force a breakthrough through Simon, who had a shot palmed away by Collis.

But Crewe took the lead on the half-hour mark when Grant slotted a left-wing cross from Shaun Miller past Shane Higgs, after Miller seized on a defensive error.

Crewe almost made it 2-0 when David Shelley fired over from Colin Daniel's cross.

The visitors got the second goal they had been threatening five minutes after the restart, when Grant turned on the edge of the area before beating Higgs.

As Wolves tried to hit back, Alex Melbourne's cross went begging, before Winnall could only find the side-netting after another fine run six minutes from time.

Crewe made sure in the last minute with a long range effort from Daniel.

Wolves: Higgs, Little, Dunleavy (Reckord 6), Batth, Connolly, Gleeson, Melbourne, Quashie, Winnall, K Bennett (Mendez-Laing 74), Simon (Ismail 67).