Burnley 1 Wolves 0 - verdict

Mick McCarthy's side looked like they needed their four-day sunshine break in the Spanish sunshine, after one of their poorest performances of the season at chilly Turf Moor.

Wolves, soon to depart for their trip to La Manga, failed to force former Albion keeper Brian Jensen into a single worthwhile save in an extremely patchy, nervous performance that will have their critics questioning their staying power in the race for automatic promotion.

Midfielder Chris McCann scored the only goal as early as the sixth minute, when he beat keeper Wayne Hennessey at his near post to head home a cross from man-of-the-match Wade Elliott from four yards out.

Burnley, who had only won one of their previous eight in the Championship as well, were good value for the win after creating by far the more chances of the two sides.

Hennessey atoned when he came to the rescue for Wolves either side of the break with fine saves. First he denied defender Steven Caldwell's backheader then Martin Paterson's follow-up.

Then he blocked McCann's effort after Elliott carved open the Wolves defence in the 56th minute.

Within seconds, Richard Stearman denied Burnley a certain second goal with a goal-line clearance after Paterson rounded Hennessey.

Seconds later, Wolves were unlucky not to concede a penalty for what looked like a push by Kevin Foley on Paterson.

The closest Wolves came was in the 78th minute, when Stearman headed firmly wide from a free kick delivered by Wolves' best player on the day Michael Kightly.

Earlier captain Karl Henry, Kightly, Nigel Quashie and substitute Chris Iwelumo all fired weak efforts at Jensen, while a sorry day for Wolves was completed when away fans appeared to boo Quashie off after a fairly anonymous showing in midfield.

At this rate, McCarthy looks like having to do a rebuilding job on his players' shattered confidence.

Virtually every player apart from Kightly and Berra performed below par, while on an awful pitch this was no game for teenager Sam Vokes to impress, on what was only his second Championship start.