Well this team never cease to amaze. After a limp draw at home to bottom of the table Brighton what could we expect against a relatively high-flying Coventry side? Wolves failed to bring in a replacement for Blake on loan, but welcomed back Ince. The only other change to the starting line-up from last time was Newton, who returned in place of the suspended Cooper. On the bench was JJ Melligan who had been called back from a loan spell with Kidderminster, where he had impressed (like Clyde) and had scored a few goals.

I don't consider games against Coventry as real Derbys, the fact that Wolverhampton and Coventry are in the same County is an aberration of government and the need to create artificial counties. To me, Wolverhampton is Staffordshire and Coventry is more East Midland than West Midland. But it doesn't appear that the Coventry fans or players see it that way. From kick off the crowd were pumped up and the Coventry players were 'vigorous' in the tackle. Within 5 minutes a late tackle on Ince brought Chippo a yellow card. Within 10 minutes Davenport got booked for a challenge on Irwin. Safri made it a hat-trick of bookings on 20 minutes for a foul on Rae.

All these robust challenges had thrown Wolves off their stride and Coventry looked the better side. Murray made a fine save from a Chippo shot, and then Hignett, nearly clean through, was robbed by Lescott who made an excellent last ditch tackle. Ex-Wolves player Mills then fizzed a shot just wide, before Kennedy was robbed on the edge of the Wolves area allowing Hignett the chance of a shot which luckily went over the bar.

Not that Coventry were having it entirely their own way. Miller, when he really should have set up Sturridge, crashed his shot against a defender, and Kennedy then set up Rae, but his shot was high, wide and not too handsome.

This match probably turned on the injury to McCallister after a robust challenge by Ince. Although he tried to run the injury off, McCallister couldn't and after about half a hour he was replaced by Eustace. Coventry's dominance then subsided and within ten minutes Wolves were one-nil up.

Hignett was booked for a challenge on Rae. The resulting free kick saw the ball end up with Rae, who let fly with a fierce drive from 25 yards which the Coventry keeper could only parry. Lescott was on-hand to poke the rebound home from close range. 1-0 Wolves and Lescott's first goal of the season. Before the break Coventry twice went close with deflected shots, but the half ended with Wolves one-nil up.

HT Coventry 0 Wolves 1

The second half was less frenetic, which suited Wolves style of play more, but it was Coventry who had all the early chances. A mix up between Murray and Lescott nearly let Hignett in, but Lescott atoned by not allowing Hignett a shot. Clyde and Ince both got in important clearances and the Wolves defence, although under pressure, looked solid enough. However the Coventry pressure was dangerous enough for Dave Jones to change the formation - going to a 4-5-1 when Andrews replaced Miller about half way through the first half.

With about ten minutes to go Wolves sealed the three points with another Rae 20-yarder. Neat play by Sturridge allowed Kennedy to get a cross in and when Newton's header was partially cleared to Rae, he made no mistake sending an excocet into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. 2-0 Wolves.

There was no way back for Coventry who, although they had dominated large parts of this match, didn't seem able to threaten. Although they've had trouble scoring recently, I'll put this down to a competent Wolves display rather than a inability of Coventry to score.

Coventry will probably feel aggrieved at the injury to McCallister, in the same way we felt angry at the injuries to Blake, Ndah and Ince after the Portsmouth match. But I think Coventry's game plan was to unsettle us with 'robust' challenges and the plan back-fired. It's not pretty, but it's First Division Football.

J.J. Melligan came onto the pitch very late into the match to replace man of the match Rae, meaning that Wolves had five products of the Youth Team on show (Murray, Lescott, Clyde, Andrews and Melligan). Maybe the future is bright after all.

oh..and we are now sixth in the league...

FT Coventry 0 Wolves 2