Live From St Andrew's
BLUES: Hart, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Bowyer,
WOLVES: Hahnemann, Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Mancienne, Henry, Jones, Foley, Doyle, Jarvis. SUBS: Hennessey, Elokobi, Guedioura, Surman, Mujangi, Ebanks-Blake, Vokes.
0: Atmosphere building up at St Andrew's ahead of the 1.30pm kick off. Tough ask for Wolves today against a Blues team beaten just once in 17. Mick McCarthy's 51st birthday as well. Events over the next 90 minutes will determined whether it's a happy one!
0: Joe Hart and Marcus Hahnemann lay wreaths in the opposition goalmouths ahead of kick off in memory of Blues legend Gil Merrick, who passed away this week. Both applauded by the opposition fans at each end.
0: Minute's applause prior to kick off which is also warmly followed by all fans inside St Andrew's.
0: And we're underway.
3: First real chance of the game and it falls to Blues. Ferguson plays a clever ball for Bowyer who has made a good forward run and controls it well before firing in a shot which Zubar deflects out for a corner.
4: Doyle gets a clearing header from the flag kick but the ball is worked back out to McFadden who cuts inside before drilling a low shot which Ward heads behind. Another corner comes in but Wolves manage to clear.
5: Blues have come right out of the traps here and produce another good chance. Bowyer again finds space inside the area and hits another shot which is blocked by Berra.
6: And even closer this time from another corner. Ridgewell heads the deep corner back across goal and Jerome is free on the six yard line to head for goal. But the ball hits Mancienne and goes over the bar.
9: Wolves muster their first attack after Jarvis dispossesses Carr and breaks from defence. Jones and Henry both involved in feeding the ball out to Foley whose low centre is intercepted by Johnson with Jones lurking behind.
12: Blues comfortably been the dominant force so far and Wolves will be relieved to have come out unscathed. Berra has to be on his toes under pressure from Chucho and clears.
14: Another chance for the hosts as Larsson latches on to a headed clearance. Dipping first time half volley carries plenty of menace but is just over the bar.
15: Wolves ease the pressure by launching an attack of their own. Doyle does well down the left and cuts inside to put in a cross which Carr heads away in front of the arriving Jones.
16: Blues quickly back on the offensive and Bowyer puts in a dangerous cross to the back post which Zubar heads behind.
17: And so close to an opener again from the corner. Met by Dann who heads into the danger zone where the ball bounces off Chucho and dropped for Jerome until Hahnemann dived in to smother.
20: Wolves win a corner at the other end and Jones's inswinging delivery appears to glance Larsson's head but Hart isn't affected and makes a clean catch.
23: Wolves win a free kick 25 yards out after Doyle is felled by Dann. Henry taps to Jones who flicks the ball up and volleys it just over the bar. Decent hit but Hart had it covered.
24: Doyle latches into Wards's header and is tripped by Hart outside the box after the Blues keeper came charging out. It's over on the left hand side with Blues defenders covering so not a goalscoring opportunity and the card is yellow for the home keeper.
28: Spell of Wolves possession down the left involving Jarvis, Ward and Foley ends with the latter sending in a left foot cross which is too deep.
29: But Wolves keep up the momentum with Jarvis and Henry both having shots which are pretty much blocked at source by the Blues defence.
30: Blues back on the attack with Larsson's cross but Bowyer can only loop a header goalwards and Hahnemann takes.
31: Wolves seem to be concentrating their efforts down the left flank and Jarvis is upended by Carr after going past him. Free kick comes in from right next to the byline and Zubar jumps well from close range but can only direct his header across goal and wide.
32: Meanwhile a replay shows Henry's earlier effort struck the hand of Carr right on the borderline of the penalty area. From close range so would have been harsh but some referees give them.
33: Henry meanwhile catches Ridgewell in the face as he tries to shield the ball. Blues fans baying for punishment but there was never any intent at all and the clash was accidental.
35: Wolves win a free kick on the right but the whistle has gone even before Jones's delivery has reached the area as referee Lee Probert spots a Wolves push.
35: Blues break through Jerome down the left and his low drive is blocked at the near post by Hahnemann. Bowyer not happy because he feels his heels were clipped by Mancienne as he tried to get up in support. Replay again shows accidental contact but Bowyer continues his protests.
36: Mighty close from the corner too. It's another Larsson inswinger which Hahnemann claws away from on his goalline but Dann is on hand with an acrobatic effort which flashes inches wide.
39: Wolves win a corner after Carr's attempted backpass drifts out but while Berra gets his head to Jarvis's delivery it's a looping header which is always going over.
40: Flashpoint here as Johnson goes in late on Ward. Wolves players not happy with challenge but Johnson indicates he was going for the ball. Yellow card which looks about right via the replays.
41: Spot of head tennis inside the area finishes with Foley getting a good connection on a left foot drive. Unfortunately it's almost too good and flies straight into Hart's midriff.
42: GOAL: DOYLE 0-1. Wolves appear to have recovered from their early problems and now take the lead. Move started on the right before Jones and Henry work it out to Jarvis on the left. Johnson tries to intercept his low cross but only diverts the ball onto his own post and Doyle is Johnny-on-the-spot from the rebound to tap home.
44: Blues win an immediate free kick 25 yards out after Jerome is fouled by Craddock. Larsson a danger from here. Not this time however as his effort clears the crossbar.
45: Two minutes added time to follow.
45+1: Mancienne fouls Chucho and this time it is a yellow for the Wolves man.
45+2: Zubar heads clear inside the area and appears to nudge Ridgewell as he does so. No penalty though according to Probert.
HALF TIME: BLUES 0-1 WOLVES
46: Back underway.
47: Wolves win an early free kick which Jones swings in but it's cleared. Jones then fouls Jerome as Blues look to break and is penalised with a yellow card.
48: Crowd today is 24, 165 with 2, 650 from Wolves.
51: Corner to Wolves taken by Jones on the left but Zubar can't get his header on target and it's well wide.
53: Wolves on the break after a Blues attack comes to nothing. Doyle finds Jarvis on the left and the winger cuts in and tries to shoot but it's blocked.
55: Roles are reversed as Blues break after a spot of Wolves possession. But Jerome's centre is comfortably cut out by Berra.
56: Blues will want to put on the pressure and Bowyer makes another good break to get on the end of Larsson's cross but it takes a ricochet off a Wolves defender and then a Blues man and goes out for a goal kick.
57: Wolves back on the attack with Doyle cutting inside but from a narrow angle firing into the side netting.
59: Another dangerous inswinging corner from McFadden is headed away by Doyle at the near post. But Blues win another. Referee Probert stops play to have a word with Hahnemann and Jerome before it's taken and the Wolves keeper claims it.
62: Benitez is offside as he chests the ball down but carries on and Hahnemann comes in with a sliding tackle which leaves the Blues man needing treatment.
63: Wolves usual nemesis Phillips is now off the bench for Benitez.
65: Spot of headed pinball on the edge of Wolves area as they look to get the ball away. Finally succeed.
66: Dann cynically brings down Doyle as the Wolves striker goes past him. Fortunately for Dann Doyle was still around 40 yards from goal so the card is yellow as opposed to red as there were no defenders covering.
67: Jarvis sends the free kick in and no one gets on the end of it and it's one of those which isn't too far away from creeping inside the post.
68: Another change for either side. Guedioura on for Jones for Wolves for his first taste of a Midlands derby. Gardner on for Larsson for Blues.
68: Impressive first impact for Guedioura who strongly holds off a Blues opponent before getting in a low left foot shot which forces Hart into a save. Doyle again did well in the build-up to hold it up.
69: Johnson gets his head to Ferguson's free kick and powerfully heads across goal but no other Blues man able to get on the end of it.
74: Final change for Blues, Fahey for McFadden.
75: Phillips tries his luck from distance but it's wide.
76: Bowyer flies in on Henry with two feet. Somewhat surprisingly not even a booking.
76: Doyle again involved as the free kick goes into the box and chests down for Foley whose left foot drive is gathered cleanly by Hart.
77: Blues with another chance as Henry dispossessed inside his own area. Berra in though with a good block as Jerome gets his shot off.
77: Wolves back on the attack immediately and a great strike from Guedioura just over the bar.
79: Hahnemann spills at testing ball into the box and Jerome is on the rebound. But he's on the floor and can only stab the ball wide. May well have taken a touch off Craddock hence the award of a Blues corner which Wolves manage to clear.
80: GOAL: PHILLIPS 1-1. And now Blues equalise, and it's that man Phillips. All three substitutes involved with Fahey crossing to the back post, Gardner heading across goal and Phillips providing the first time finish.
85: GOAL: PHILLIPS 2-1. Could this get any worse? Carr advances down the right and crosses for Phillips, who chests down before firing low into the bottom corner.
87: Henry booked for a challenge on Ferguson and Ferguson also booked for retaliation after going after Henry. And the Scot wants a few more verbals even after that. Cue another talking-to from the referee.
89: Double switch for Wolves as last throw of the dice. Ebanks-Blake and Vokes on for Jarvis and Foley. Nothing to lose now.
90: Four minutes added time to follow.
90+1: Bowyer into the book for a foul on Mancienne. Free kick slung into the box by Henry but headed clear.
90+4: Guedioura chests down a centre from Doyle but the ball runs away from him and Hart is out to gather.
90+4: Foul given against Surman as he goes in to challenge and that will probably be that.
90+5: Full time whistle goes and Berra appears to be booked afterwards for dissent.
FULL TIME: BLUES 2-1 WOLVES
MATCH REPORT AND REACTION TO FOLLOW
