Gillingham 1 Wolves 0 - match report

On a night when head coach Kenny Jackett revealed keeper Wayne Hennessey had refused to play amid speculation of a move to Crystal Palace, Wolves failed to force a single save from Gills shotstopper Stuart Nelson and succumbed to McDonald's injury-time winner.

Jackett made five changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Tranmere on New Year's Day as he looked to keep his side as fresh as possible as they took the field just 51 hours after playing at Prenton Park.

Aaron McCarey – who made his Wolves League debut - George Elokobi, Scott Golbourne, James Henry and Kevin Doyle replaced Carl Ikeme, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Richard Stearman, Jake Cassidy and Leigh Griffiths.

Ikeme and Ebanks-Landell were injured and Stearman was suspended as a threadbare Wolves were without six players, Jack Price, Liam McAlinden and Matt Doherty completing the list of absentees.

Elokobi made his first League start of the season while Henry returned from a groin injury.

Jackett's unhappiness with his attack was shown by yet another permutation up front as it quickly became apparent that Sako was playing up front alongside Doyle.

Wolves made the early running and tried to play some decent passing football.

The visitors created the first of very few chances in the first half as Michael Jacobs slid in to stab goalwards from Henry's cross but it flew straight at keeper Stuart Nelson after nine minutes.

Sako screwed well wide on the volley from Kevin McDonald's cross on the run on 26 as Wolves continued to look the better side.

Danny Batth and George Elokobi tried to force home on 32 after a challenge on Nelson but the referee blew for a foul on the Gills keeper.

The only other chance of the first half was a volley from Kevin McDonald that flew straight at Nelson after Doyle flicked on Golbourne's cross on 37.

The half-time statistics showed Wolves had 11 shots to Gillingham's two, along with seven corners for the visitors.

But only three were on target and they still failed to seriously work the opposition keeper.

Kedwell had the first half chance of the second period four minutes after the restart but could only lash well over on the as Batth slid in.

A minute later Jacobs sent a rising left-foot shot over the bar from 22 yards.

There was a let-off for Wolves on 55 when Cody McDonald latched onto a cut-back from the right but McCarey reacted superbly to block with his legs.

Jackett tried to inject fresh life into Wolves' limp attack when he brought on Griffiths for Henry on 62 and Cassidy for Doyle 13 minutes later.

But it made little difference as Wolves looked desperate and devoid of ideas going forward as passes and crosses were overhit or blocked.

Instead in a poor second half that deteriorated along with the pitch as a fierce wind took hold, Gillingham looked the more dangerous side.

Kedwell smacked a shot against the base of the far post on 82 after getting the wrong side of Batth, the ball bouncing away to safety.

Then in the second of the two minutes added on at the end, Cody McDonald drilled home the winner from 10 yards after Wolves failed to clear a corner from the Gills' right.

It was little more than Wolves deserved after failing to work Nelson and they have plenty to do to appease their fans as their struggle for points and goals goes on.