Wolverhampton

2

Ebanks-Blake 45,57

Swansea

1

Pratley 49
(HT 1 - 0)
Kickoff: 19:45
Att: 21988
Wolves go top after Swans victory
Wolves returned to the top of the Championship after two goals from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake helped them overcome Swansea 2-1 at Molineux.
 
Ebanks-Blake: Scored twice
Ebanks-Blake: Scored twice
 

Wolves

  30 Ikeme
  20 Shackell ***
  32 Foley
  25 Collins N
  8 Henry
  7 Edwards **
  14 David Jones
  7 Kightly *
  11 Ward S
  19 Iwelumo
  9 Ebanks-Blake

On The Bench

  1 Hennessey
  27 Mancienne ** (81)
  4 Edwards * (67)
  18 Vokes
  10 Keogh *** (87)

Swansea

  30 Krysiak
  16 Monk
  21 Bessone
  2 Williams A
  22 Rangel
  7 Britton *
  Jordi Gomez
  8 Pratley
  6 Bodde
  27 Gower **
  9 Scotland

On The Bench

  13 Konstantopoulos
  5 Tate
  28 Butler ** (76)
  18 Pintado * (76)
  Brandy

With snow covering large parts of the surface, both sides did well to produce an entertaining match which was ultimately settled by Ebanks-Blake's eighth and ninth goals of the season.

Mick McCarthy's Wolves side, who had suffered a dip in form over recent weeks and lost at Swansea earlier this month, have now leapfrogged Birmingham at the top of the table thanks to this second win in as many games.

For their part, Swansea did well in patches and could have gone ahead following Darren Pratley's equaliser at the start of the second half, but after failing to make the most of their chances they were made to pay.

Having come away from Watford with a 3-2 win on Saturday, it was no surprise to see Wolves start well, and they deserved the half-time lead given to them by Ebanks-Blake.

Although the opener did not come until just seconds before the whistle, they had already passed up a number of good chances by that stage.

Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo was in the thick of the action for the home side, wasting the first genuine opportunity of the game with 10 minutes on the clock when he volleyed wide from close-range after Artur Krysiak had made a mess of collecting David Jones' cross.

The striker then thought that he had added his 10th goal of the season when he powered a header beyond Krysiak, only for referee Richard Beeby to decide he had climbed on Angel Rangel when jumping for Carlos Edwards' cross.

Swansea were not without chances of their own though, as midfielder Jordi Gomez did well to create openings for first Mark Gower and then Rangel, but neither could test Carl Ikeme in the home goal.

Iwelumo then sent another volley flashing wide after a cross from Edwards, before the home side's dominance finally paid off when Ebanks-Blake managed to conjure enough space and fired a shot which left Krysiak with no chance.

Swansea were positive at the start of the second period though, and were level within four minutes of the restart as Pratley fired in his second goal in as many games.

The goal came when the home defence failed to deal with a menacing cross from Federico Bessone and Pratley was on hand to drive home the loose ball from the edge of the area.

The visitors were enjoying their best spell of the game and Pratley was unfortunate not to double his tally when a similar 20-yard effort crept over the bar, whilst Rangel and Jason Scotland also went close.

But Wolves soon hit back and were soon back in front thanks to another goal from Ebanks-Blake.

Edwards did well to make some room on the left and his neat cross was glanced past Krysiak by the former Plymouth striker.

As with his first goal it immediately spurred the visitors into life and Gower was unlucky not to bring the scores level again with a 30-yard drive which cannoned off the bar with Ikeme well beaten.

With his luck well and truly out, Iwelumo then saw another 'goal' chalked off after straying into an offside position, while Krysiak did well to palm his header over the bar after it changed direction following a deflection off Garry Monk.

With Wolves knowing a third goal would secure the win, Karl Henry and Jones both went close, although it mattered little as Swansea were unable to hit back for a second time.

Today's other The Coca-Cola Football League Championship matches.
Sheff Wed 0 - 1 Plymouth Report
    MacLean 23 Att: 16515
Bristol City 0 - 0 Sheff Utd Report
      Att: 16798
Southampton 1 - 1 Coventry Report
McGoldrick 68   Morrison 75 Att: 14226
Preston 2 - 0 Watford Report
Jones B 43 Wallace 68     Att: 11234
Crystal Palace 1 - 2 Nottm Forest Report
Kuqi 75   Cohen 28 Thornhill 81 Att: 15162
Derby 3 - 1 Norwich Report
Green 14 Hulse 29 Kazmierczak 80   Kennedy 64 Att: 26621
Doncaster 0 - 1 Barnsley Report
    Macken 42 Att: 13251
Burnley 1 - 0 Reading Report
Blake 81     Att: 11538
Cardiff 2 - 0 Blackpool Report
Whittingham 83 McCormack 86     Att: 17570
QPR 1 - 0 Birmingham Report
Di Carmine 54 Leigertwood s/o 45     Att: 13594
Ipswich 1 - 1 Charlton Report
Garvan 37   Bailey 82 Att: 20352



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