Northampton Town 0

Wolves 3 (D. Ward 22, Keogh-pen 31, Eastwood 89)

Wolves enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory over League One Northampton Town at the Sixfields Stadium thanks to goals from Darren Ward, Andy Keogh and Freddy Eastwood.

In the opening seconds a dangerous cross from Michael Kightly was hacked clear by the Town defence and then the home team won the first corner of the game when Darren Potter headed behind a centre from Jason Crowe.

Ian Henderson's flag-kick was half cleared to Danny Jackman who volleyed into the arms of Wayne Hennessey from just outside the box.

Joe Burnell took the ball off Keogh's foot as the striker prepared to shoot and, from the corner conceded, taken by Kightly, Chris Dunn in the Cobblers goals punched clear in a crowded six-yard box.

Stephen Elliott was close after a great lofted pass from Kightly had landed in his path. Elliott's low, angled shot beat Dunn but was fractionally wide of the far post.

But Wolves took the lead shortly afterwards with the half at its midway point. Charlie Mulgrew put Keogh through on the overlap and Ward sidefooted home the low driven cross that followed, from six-yards out.

Elliott and Keogh then combined to create a chance for Kightly who was thwarted by Dunn who palmed a ferocious shot over the bar.

But, on 31 minutes, Keogh sent Dunn the wrong way from the penalty spot after he had been felled by Mark Hughes in the home area.

Just two minutes later it was almost three when Liam Dolman nearly conceded an own goal as he deflected Elliott's glancing header from Kightly's centre onto the foot of the post.

There was another close call when Michael Gray, making his first start for the club, delivered a fine cross from the left. The ball was headed out to Seyi Olfinjana who hit a tremendous volley from 22-yards that dipped inches over the bar.

Half-Time: Town 0 Wolves 2

Elliott tested Dunn shortly after the restart with a firmly struck shot that the keeper pushed up into the air, catching the ball as it dropped.

Dunn then had to dive full length to turn away another well struck effort from Elliott who had been set up by Keogh after some good work on the left.

With the game approaching the hour mark Mick McCarthy made six changes to his team but it was one of the players that had remained on the field, Kightly, who figured next with a low 20-yard drive that was taken by Dunn to his left.

In the 66^th minute Bothroyd took a return pass from Kightly before drilling a cross-shot a yard in front of the goal-line and out to the far side.

When the ball was returned to the box it fell to Eastwood who was denied by Dunn who was quickly off his line to block at close quarters.

Town went close twice in the closing stages with Daniel May firing narrowly wide with a shot on the run from 25-yards, and Joe Burnell heading over from close in.

But, in the final minute, Eastwood raced into the box onto a pass from Rob Edwards He looked as if he was going to be crowded out but after cutting inside a defender, he turned to lash a shot into the net.

Town: Dunn, Crowe, Jackman, Johnson, Dolman (May 57), Hughes, Henderson (Aiston 57), Burnell, Larkin (Quinn 67), Kirk (Howe 67), Gilligan (Dyer 74).

Unused subs: Taylor, Thorogood.

Wolves: Hennessey, N. Collins, Gray (Clapham 59), Olofinjana (Henry 59), Breen (capt) (Craddock 59), D.Ward (Edwards 59), Kightly, Potter (Gleeson 72), Keogh (Bothroyd 59), Elliott (Eastwood 59), Mulgrew (Jones 72).

Unused sub: Lumley.

Referee: A. Woolmer.

Attendance: 2,258 (806 Wolves supporters).