Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Bakary Sako's penalty was his 12th goal of the season

Wolves kept up their promotion hopes as some clinical finishing saw off a wasteful Sheffield Wednesday side.

Kenny Jackett's team have lost just once in their last seven games and are three points off the play-off spots with eight games left.

Bakary Sako opened the scoring from the penalty spot and Benik Afobe doubled the lead with a volley off the post after the break.

Substitute James Henry wrapped up the win with a curler from 20 yards.

But it could have been a different story had Stuart Gray's Owls - who had 20 shots during the game and had more possession - found the target when on top.

Atdhe Nuhiu and Tom Lees headed wide for Wednesday, and Wolves goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak also saved well from Jacques Maghoma.

The hosts went ahead when Nouha Dicko was tripped by Claude Dielna and Sako scored from the spot.

After the break Afobe doubled the lead with his 27th goal of the season, crashing in a fine cross from Matt Doherty.

It was three when Henry cut inside to curl into the top corner, but Wolves' night ended on a sour note when defender Richard Stearman went down injured and had to leave the pitch on a stretcher.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett:

"It's a crucial win. We need a great run and if we can find our form then we have an opportunity, it sets up Friday against Derby as a great game.

"We'll look forward to it and it's an opportunity for us against one of the sides above us to pull them back a bit more.

"The gap to Derby in fifth is five points and it's the sort of night you're in the game for and we're looking quickly towards Friday."

Sheffield Wednesday manager Stuart Gray:

"I'm disappointed the penalty was given because it was a good tackle.

"I've seen it back, we've lost possession, Wolves have broken and the boy Dielna has put a fair tackle in. I don't think he (Dicko) has dived but his momentum took him over his leg.

"What has helped is 5,000 Wolves fans appealing for the penalty, I'm disappointed but I can't blame the referee for the next two goals."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Wolves

• 29Kuszczak
• 2Doherty
• 6Batth
• 5StearmanSubstituted forEbanks-Landellat 74'minutes
• 3Golbourne
• 17van La ParraSubstituted forHenryat 53'minutes
• 19Price
• 11McDonaldSubstituted forEdwardsat 88'minutes
• 10Sako
• 40Dicko
• 12Afobe

Substitutes

• 4Edwards
• 7Henry
• 13McCarey
• 14Evans
• 16Doyle
• 23Ebanks-Landell
• 30Hause

Sheff Wed

• 1Westwood
• 36Vermijl
• 15Lees
• 35DielnaBooked at 18mins
• 17Helan
• 10Maguire
• 37McGuganBooked at 86mins
• 4HutchinsonSubstituted forMeloat 77'minutes
• 19Maghoma
• 9Nuhiu
• 7MaySubstituted forLaveryat 64'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Buxton
• 3Mattock
• 13Lavery
• 20Lee
• 26De Havilland
• 33Melo
• 43Kirkland

Referee:

Simon Hooper

Attendance:

18,687

Match Stats

Home TeamWolvesAway TeamSheff Wed

Possession

Home44%

Away56%

Shots

Home12

Away20

Shots on Target

Home7

Away3

Corners

Home3

Away4

Fouls

Home6

Away13

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3, Sheffield Wednesday 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3, Sheffield Wednesday 0.

Posted at 90'+4'

Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. James Henry tries a through ball, but Matt Doherty is caught offside.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Jacques Maghoma (Sheffield Wednesday).

Posted at 90'+4'

James Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt missed. Caolan Lavery (Sheffield Wednesday) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Tom Lees following a corner.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt blocked. Tom Lees (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis McGugan with a cross.

Posted at 90'+1'

Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Scott Golbourne.

Posted at 90'

Hand ball by Caolan Lavery (Sheffield Wednesday).

Substitution

Posted at 88'

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Dave Edwards replaces Kevin McDonald.

Posted at 87'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 86'

Delay in match Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers) because of an injury.

Booking

Posted at 86'

Lewis McGugan (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Lewis McGugan (Sheffield Wednesday).

Posted at 86'

Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 84'

Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Matt Doherty.

Posted at 83'

Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Kevin McDonald tries a through ball, but Nouha Dicko is caught offside.

Posted at 81'

Attempt saved. Benik Afobe (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Scott Golbourne.

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from more than 40 yards on the left wing is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.

Posted at 80'

Foul by Filipe Melo (Sheffield Wednesday).

Posted at 80'

Benik Afobe (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 80'

Attempt saved. Chris Maguire (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Filipe Melo replaces Sam Hutchinson.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Caolan Lavery (Sheffield Wednesday).

Posted at 75'

Scott Golbourne (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 74'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ethan Ebanks-Landell replaces Richard Stearman because of an injury.

Posted at 72'

Delay in match Richard Stearman (Wolverhampton Wanderers) because of an injury.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Claude Dielna (Sheffield Wednesday).

Posted at 69'

Benik Afobe (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Goal!

Posted at 67'

Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 3, Sheffield Wednesday 0. James Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Matt Doherty.

Substitution

Posted at 64'

Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Caolan Lavery replaces Stevie May.

Posted at 63'

Attempt missed. Chris Maguire (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.

Posted at 62'

Jacques Maghoma (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 62'

Foul by James Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 62'

Jeremy Helan (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 62'

Foul by Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 60'

Attempt missed. Marnick Vermijl (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

Posted at 59'

Foul by Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday).

Posted at 59'

Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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