Preston 1 Wolves 3 - verdict

Nine-man Wolves remained top of the Championship as they clinched their sixth successive win at fellow high-fliers Preston.

Chris Iwelumo was the hero, scoring a hat-trick before being sent off for an apparent head butt on Sean St. Ledger in the 75th minute.

Wolves were good value for their win, as they stretched their unbeaten league run to 11 games going back to April 15.

Iwelumo rewarded heavy pressure from the visitors when he broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with an overhead kick, after retreaving a Dave Jones cross.

This came after Neill Collins had headed against the bar from another Jones cross. Preston twice had the ball in the net in the 44th minute but both efforts were disallowed for offside.

Wolves' dominance was summed up by the sponsors making keeper Andy Lonergan man-of-the-match. He picked the ball out of his net again in the 66th minute, when Iwelumo stabbed home Michael Kightly's cross.

The unstoppable Iwelumo, back in the side after missing two games with a groin injury, had a header tipped away by the fully streched Lonergan, before completing his hat-trick with a 72nd minute penalty after Billy Jones had scythed down Kightly.

Just three minutes later, Wolves were reduced to 10 men when Iwelumo was sent off for a head butt on St Ledger, as both squared up to each other in the centre circle in an off the ball incident.

Then in the dying seconds, Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey brought down Mellor in the area and was sent off for a professional foul.

Mellor converted the spot kick past stand-in goalkeeper and debutant Jason Shackell.