Wolves Res 3 Stoke Res 1

Geoffrey Mujangi Bia was hot stuff on a freezing night as a strong Wolves reserve side overwhelmed a youthful Stoke in the mud at AFC Telford.

The Belgium winger, who is still to start a Premier League game for Wolves after arriving on loan from Charleroi in January, caught the eye with a fine goal and several near misses against albeit mostly Academy opposition.

Watched by manager Mick McCarthy, Wolves - playing a similar 4-3-3 formation as the first team – hit the bar through Andrew Surman while Nenad Milijas smacked the post as the hosts dominated, Mujangi Bia an increasingly lively threat.

Andy Keogh somehow failed to get a shot in after brilliantly dummying two players, before the unmarked Mujangi Bia swept straight at keeper Dave Parton from Edwards's inviting cross.

Stoke's goal led a charmed life as Sam Vokes opted to cross from a tightening angle rather than shoot after Milijas's through pass left him in the clear.

But Keogh, wearing striking lilac and pink boots, was even more wasteful, blasting wide from inside the area when clean through.

Stoke had a rare chance when Edwards lost possession and Zack Foster rifled just wide.

But Wolves immediately returned to the attack and Vokes headed straight at Parton from a deep, swirling free kick from Greg Halford, before Keogh again found space for a first-time shot which drifted just wide.

Vokes finally rewarded Wolves' supremacy in the 38th minute when his 25-yard drive deflected in off what appeared to be the head of Rodney McDonald for the reserves' first goal in seven games.

Either side of the goal, Mujangi Bia unleashed fierce, curling efforts after cutting inside from either wing, the first headed away by Andy Davies and the second producing a falling save from Parton.

The Belgian winger's cross then produced a scramble with Vokes unable to supply the final touch.

Wolves continued to force the pace after the break and Mujangi Bia was a yard over with a rising effort, before Surman chipped against the bar.

Mujangi Bia almost scored a lovely goal as Wolves swept from back to front in one movement.

Keogh emerged from a rare Stoke foray into Wolves' half to feed Edwards, who carried the ball over halfway before slotting in the Belgian for a curling effort drifting into the bottom corner before Parton tipped it around the post at full stretch.

The on-loan Charleroi wideman then saw an angled effort blocked after Keogh threaded him through in the area.

Milijas almost brought the house down on 66 when his full-blooded, 35-yard effort crashed back off the post and Mujangi Bia was ruled offside converting the rebound.

The second goal Wolves had been threatening ever since the first finally came on 76 – and that man Mujangi Bia scored it, finding the top corner with a shot on the turn from 25 yards, giving Parton no chance.

Stoke reduced the arrears within two minutes with their first effort when Louis Moult picked his spot after beating the off-balance Stearman following Nick Jackson's cross.

But Wolves restored their two-goal cushion on 81 when Keogh got the slightest touch to Halford's driven free kick.

Substitute Warwick Alexander headed straight at Wolves keeper Aaron McCarey from point-blank range at the death.

Wolves (4-3-3): McCarey; Halford, Stearman, Dunleavy, Reckord; Edwards, Surman, Milijas; Keogh, Mujangi Bia; Vokes.

Subs not used: Spray, Mendez-Laing, Winnall, Forde, Griffiths.

Stoke (4-4-2): Parton; Cohen, McDonald, Davies, Wint; Lund, Jackson, Nicholls, Foster (Alexander 60); Mitchell, Moult.

Subs not used: Harrison, Hedley, Stockhall, Sinclair.