Wolves 2 (Fletcher 15, Ebanks-Blake 65)
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Lopez 36)
Mick McCarthy's men completed their pre-season programme with a confidence boosting victory over Athletic Bilbao with Steven Fletcher and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on target in a hard fought contest.
Wolves kicked-off attacking the South Bank end and in the opening seconds Matt Jarvis was upended by Bilbao skipper Pablo Orbaiz. Dave Jones lifted the free-kick into the box but it was headed clear.
A long throw from Jelle Van Damme was headed on by Fletcher but claimed by keeper Raul Fernandez before Stephen Ward and David Lopez had to receive treatment after both landed heavily following an aerial challenge.
A misplaced Karl Henry pass gave Mikel Balenziaga a run at goal but his shot hit Jody Craddock and bounced behind for a corner.
Wolves took the lad in the 15th minute after a fine piece of interplay. Jarvis showed great determination as, from on the floor, he touched the ball into the path of Fletcher who then took a perfect return pass from Ebanks-Blake before burying a low shot past Fernandez.
Balenziaga looked on to give Bilbao a quick response but Christophe Berra raced across to clear just as the striker was lining up a shot at goal.
Oscar De Marcos clipped the top of Marcus Hahnemann's crossbar with a long-range effort and Ebanks-Blake almost prospered at the other end with a dipping volley from 30-yards that wasn't far over after Fletched had nodded the ball into his path.
The Spaniards drew level in the 36th minute through Lopez who met Ibai Gomez's cross at the far post and clipped the ball into the opposite corner of the net.
Half-Time: Wolves 1 Athletic Bilbao 1
George Elokobi replaced Ward for the start of the new half. He slotted in at left-back whilst Van Damme pushed up into midfield.
A foul by Jarvis on Gomez led to a free-kick for the visitors in a dangerous position but Hahnemann was perfectly placed to field Lopez's attempt.
When Jarvis won a free-kick himself, he lifted the ball across from the left and it flew through the area just eluding Ebanks-Blake and Craddock before drifting behind on the far side.
A fine piece of play from Fletcher almost rewarded the Scot with a second goal after he had taken a short pass from Van Damme. He turned on the edge of the box wrong footing his marker before firing inches wide of the far post.
Koikili Lertxundi was booked after a heavy challenge on Jarvis who took the free-kick himself finding Berra whose near post flick was turned behind by Fernandez. From the corner, again taken by Jarvis, Fletcher powered in a header that was cleared off the line by Orbaiz.
Carlos Gurpegui was yellow carded for kicking the ball away after he had conceded a foul, before a double switch saw Greg Halford and Andy Keogh replaced Jarvis and Fletcher respectively.
Wolves regained the advantage in the 66th minute through Ebanks-Blake. Fernandez initially blocked from the striker after Henry has chipped a short ball into the box.
The ball rebounded to Henry who tried his luck with a low drive only for Fernandez to save again.
This time Keogh gained possession finding Henry who squared the ball to Ebanks-Blake who scooped it into the net.
Halford fired into the side netting after swivelling onto a long throw from Elokobi, as Wolves continued to look the stronger side.
Carl Ikeme made a late appearance in place of Hahnemann and he was called into action in stoppage time after Berra had been booked for a foul on Gurpegui just outside the home area.
Inigo Perez curled the free-kick through the wall but Ikeme got his body fully behind the ball to deny Bilbao the chance of a last gasp equaliser.
Wolves: Hahnemann (Ikeme 88), Foley (Stearman 79), Van Damme (Mujangi Bia 85), Jones (Edwards 70), Berra, Craddock (Mouyokolo 81), Jarvis (Halford 63), Henry (capt) (Guedioura 85), Ebanks-Blake (Milijaš 79), Fletcher (Keogh 63), Ward (Elokobi 45).
Unused subs: Doyle, Hill.
Booking: Berra (90 - foul).
Bilbao: Raul Fernandez (Aitor Fernandez 70), De Marcos, Castillo (Lertxundi 45), Aldekoaotalora, Ocio, Gurpegui, Lopez, Orbaiz (capt) (Perez 66), De Cerio (Martinez 45), Balenziaga (Muniain 45), Gomez (Velez 45).
Bookings: Lertxundi (57 - foul), Gurpegui (62 - kicking ball away after conceding free-kick).
Referee: L. Mason.
Attendance: 17,502.
