Wolves 3 Accrington 2 - verdict

Chris Iwelumo and Mark Davies ultimately spared Wolves' blushes as they finally overcame plucky Accrington Stanley last night.

Wolves' erratic defending and their ability to score goals carried on in almost equal measures, in a tie that was never short on incident.

Going forwards, Mick McCarthy's side look like scoring more than their fair share of goals to address the chronic shortage of last season, even if they are taking plenty of chances to score them.

To underline the point, Wolves forced 17 corners and were into double figures for chances created.

In similar echoes to the friendlies against Walsall and Blackburn and then the opener at Plymouth, they still have plenty of problems to iron out at the back.

In a defence boasting four of the regular back five, Richard Stearman was an unfortunate common denominator.

This time it was in front of watching England U21 coach Stuart Pearce, in a display that was as good going forwards as it was difficult defensively for the youngster.

The summer signing from Leicester has already shown enough signs that he's a top quality defender in the making.

Ultimately, it was another tale of goalkeeping heroics that kept Wolves at bay during this Molineux curtain-raiser.

After former Wolves shotstopper Graham Stack denied them at Home Park on Saturday, it was the turn of Kenny Arthur last night at Molineux.

Arthur made no fewer than seven fine saves to deny the home side a much more emphatic – and earlier – victory.

Davies's winner and first competitive goal since January 2006, coming in the 106th minute.

His performance – in his first competitive outing since April 2007 – meant Iwelumo's wasn't the only display McCarthy will have noted, on a night where the manager made six changes to the line-up that started in Devon.

They were celebrating as early as the seventh minute. Iwelumo turned and fired home after Arthur dropped Daniel Jones's centre, his effort harshly disallowed for a push.

That was the cue for the chances to come thick and fast. ave Edwards shot wide from 22 yards and then saw an ambitious 30-yarder scorch the fingers of Arthur, in between Neill Collins's flying header which produced similar acrobatics.

The goalkeeper was also needed to touch Sam Vokes's near post header wide, while he was grounded when Stearman's header on the line was blocked, after Iwelumo stopped George Elokobi's shot during one almighty scramble,

Wolves were made to pay for their wastefulness as Accrington, for whom Peter Cavanagh saw a free kick palmed aside by Wayne Hennessey in the 36th minute, took the lead totally against the run of play four minutes later.

Blackburn loanee forward Jamie Clarke, whose pace stretched Wolves at times, saw a magnificent curling shot ricochet off the angle and veteran Stanley top scorer Paul Mullin dived in, to head the rebound into the empty net.

Trailing at the break, Wolves knew they had to do something and although they brought on Andy Keogh for Daniel Jones in the 53rd minute.

It wasn't until the arrival of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 10 minutes later, that the home side laid heavy siege to Accrington's goal.

In the three minutes following his arrival, Iwelumo saw a shot blocked, before Ebanks-Blake left Wolves wondering whether it wasn't going to be their night, after missing a headed chance on the line from Michael Gray's corner.

Then Dave Edwards had a header tipped over from Ebanks-Blake's defected cross.

Finally, Wolves got the equaliser their play deserved in the 73rd minute, when Iwelumo glanced home Keogh's left-wing cross.

Wolves continued to press and Dave Edwards was inches away with a rising half volley, Ebanks-Blake headed over, Keogh saw a shot blocked by Cavanagh and Gray's rising effort was tipped over before the whistle blew for full-time.

McCarthy's men continued where they had left off in extra-time, as successive Gray corners saw Collins's header palmed aside, before an effort from Ebanks-Blake was deflected off target,

Soon after, Ian Craney was in the thick of the goalmouth action, firing just wide then equalising at 2-2 with a fine finish in the 104th minute, one-on-one against Hennessey, after Liam Richardson's ball left him in the clear.

Those incidents came in between a 10-yard bullet header from Iwelumo, from Davies's 102nd minute corner.

Davies's winner, coming just 35 seconds after the restart for the second period of extra-time, just about extinguished any lingering hopes of an Accrington comeback.

Again, Stearman showed his confidence and composure at bringing the ball forward as he fed Ebanks-Blake with his back to goal. Davies, showing quick and clever feet, danced over a flimsy challenge before calmly slotting home.

There was still time for another scare at the other end, after Stearman twice missed his tackle, to allow Phil Edwards a free shot at goal, which he somehow poked wide with the goal at his mercy.

Finally, as the end drew near of a nailbiting, if entertaining clash, came some praise for boss Mick McCarthy from the South Bank in full voice, the 'Super Mick' chant well acknowledged by the boss.

There was still time for Stanley centre-back Robert Williams to be sent off for a second bookable offence on Stearman, following another rampaging late run in injury-time of extra-time.

As for McCarthy, you sense there will be plenty of goals and thrills and spills ahead for him and his team, if they carry on how they have played their first two games.

Fans who perceived low entertainment value last season, will welcome the high tempo football shaping the team this term.

For the moment, supporters should just get ready to chew the fingernails at the other end!

Wolves (4-4-2): Hennessey; Foley, Stearman, Collins, Elokobi; Gray (Davies 99), Henry, D Edwards, Daniel Jones (Keogh 53); Iwelumo, Vokes (Ebanks-Blake 63).

Subs not used: Craddock, S Ward, Potter, Ikeme.

Accrington (4-4-2): Arthur; Cavanagh, Williams, P Edwards, King; Richardson, Craney, J Mullin, Grant (Miles 71); P Mullin, Clarke (Ryan74).

Subs not used: Dunbavin, Ona, Bell, Murphy, Smith.