Doncaster Rovers 0
Wolves 1 (Collins 80)
Wolves were made to fight all the way by gallant Doncaster before a late goal from Neil Collins secured the three points and stretched the lead at the top of the table.
The goalscorer was named as a substitute on the teamsheet but a migraine attack ruled Michael Mancienne out shortly before the start and Collins deputised in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up.
Rovers kicked-off attacking the end of the Keepmoat Stadium that housed 3,200 travelling supporters.
Dave Edwards was an early casualty when he took a clearance flush in the face but he was able to resume once his nose bleed had been stemmed.
Two Brian Stock corners for the home team, and a Michael Kightly flag-kick for Wolves, were all cleared in a chanceless opening 15 minutes before Wayne Hennessey took a snapshot from Richie Wellens who ran on to a low cross from John Spicer.
Wolves were awarded a free-kick three-yards outside the home box after Adam Lockwood's challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake but Kightly's kick was deflected behind. Kightly ran over to take the corner from which Collins' glancing header was cleared by Lockwood.
In the 26th minute Rovers went close to taking a shock lead. Wellens played Paul Hefferman through and it took an athletic save from Hennessey, who touched a rising drive onto the bar, to maintain parity.
On the half-hour mark Jos Van Niewstadt's header following Stock's corner flashed across the face of goal and just wide of the far post.
Kightly's determined run to the edge of the home box saw his shot blocked at the expense of a corner by Lockwood. Kightly floated the ball over and in a few seconds of mayhem Wolves went close to breaking the deadlock on four occasions.
First Andy Keogh fired against the bar and then, when the striker picked up the rebound, his second effort came back off the post. Then it was the turn of Richard Stearman who looked on for his first goal for the club until Neil Sullivan pulled off a fine diving save. The ball went as far as Stephen Ward but his low drive was cleared of the line by Sam Hird.
Shortly before the break Wellens was shown the yellow card after his attempt to halt Stearman's surging run was deemed illegal.
Half-Time: Rovers 0 Wolves 0
Mick McCarthy made two changes at the start of the new half with Chris Iwlumo replacing Keogh and Matt Jarvis coming on for Matt Hill. Ward dropped back into defence.
There was an early chance for the home team when a Stock corner dropped to Wellens on the edge of the Wolves area but his first time shot went into the side netting.
Home crowd appeals for a penalty after Hennessey and Lewis Guy met whilst contending for a long through ball were ignored, before two Wolves men went into the book in a five minute spell.
Kightly was cautioned for a foul on James Chambers and, as it was his fifth booking of the campaign, the midfielder will be suspended for the away game at Blackpool. Then Collins appeared to clear the ball as he thwarted Guy, but he too saw yellow.
Midway through the half Sam Vokes was sent on in place of Ebanks-Blake.
Kevin Foley weaved a path into the home area in the 72nd minute but his shot lacked power and Sullivan saved at the near post.
But, in the 80th minute, Collins made the breakthrough when he powerfully headed home after Kightly had floated a free-kick into the box following Tomi Adeobi's foul on Ward (pictured).
In the final minutes Wolves went close to increasing their lead. Iwelumo was high and wide with an angled shot after he took a return pass from Jarvis before Kightly steered a 25-yard shot into Sullivan's arms.
Vokes fired inches over the bar and Karl Henry chested the ball down before firing towards goal from fully 35-yards out. But his effort was collected by the Rovers keeper.
Deep into the five minutes of added time, Foley's shot was blocked and Vokes missed with his follow up drive.
Rovers: Sullivan, O'Connor, Chambers, Lockwood (Taylor 83), Hird, Stock (capt), Van Niewstadt, Wellens, Guy (Elliott 77), Spicer, Hefferman (Ameobi 77).
Unused subs: Roberts, Nelthorpe.
Booking: Wellens (43 - foul).
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Hill (Jarvis 45), Henry (capt), Stearman, Collins, Kightly, Edwards, Ebanks-Blake (Vokes 68), Keogh (Iwelumo 45), Ward.
Unused subs: Shackell, Ikeme.
Bookings: Kightly (56 - foul), Collins (61 - foul).
Referee: K.K. Wright.
Attendance: 13,669 (3,216 away supporters).
