Wolves 2 Blackburn 3

Wolves secured a third season of Premier League football on a day of the highest drama against Blackburn at Molineux.

Mick McCarthy's side stayed up by a point after Roman Pavlyuchenko's late winner for Tottenham beat Birmingham to relegate Blues along with Blackpool, who lost 4-2 at champions Manchester United.

Stephen Hunt's 87th minute goal to make it 3-2 had put Wolves out of the bottom three.

But nerves were shredded after Wolves were 'relegated' at half-time, as they trailed 3-0 before Jamie O'Hara pulled one back on 73 minutes.

First-half goals from Jason Roberts (22), Martin Olsson (38) and Junior Hoilett (45) seemingly put the game beyond Wolves.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy made one change from the side that beat Sunderland 3-1 last week.

Matt Jarvis was recalled at wide right after missing the last two starts for Adlene Guedioura, who dropped to the bench.

In a lively start, both goalkeepers were forced into action in the opening minutes.

After Jermaine Jones' low drive flew well wide, Stephen Ward's cross-shot saw Blackburn's Paul Robinson sprawl to his left before Wayne Hennessey smothered Junior Foilett's centre after the striker rounded Jody Craddock on the byline in the penalty area.

Wolves responded through Ward, who saw a powerful volley blocked by Chris Samba.

They had plenty of defending to do though, and after Steven N'Zonzi's header was easily saved by Hennessey, there were a few nerves in the home camp when Karl Henry was booked for bringing down Hoillet 25 yards out.

Thankfully for Wolves, Jermaine Jones's curling setpiece flew well over.

McCarthy's men hit back to force a header wide through George Elokobi from O'Hara's corner.

But they fell behind to an unfortunate stroke of luck in the 22nd minute.

And it was old boy Roberts who got the decisive touch, diverting Michel Salgado's angled drive away from Hennessey after Hoilett beat Elokobi on the right and pulled the ball back into the path of the right-back.

Wolves were suddenly second best and they perhaps had World Cup referee Howard Webb to thank for keeping Henry on the field after the skipper foolishly shoved Jermaine Jones in the chest.

The home side were struggling to keep the ball against physically bigger opponents, who were playing much the better football too, sparking frustration among the already tense sell-out crowd.

And Rovers increased their lead in the 38th minute with a superb goal from Olsson, who met the ball full on the volley from the edge of the area to give Hennessey no chance after Robinson's long kick was headed away by Craddock.

Worse was to follow for Wolves after Blackpool equalised at Manchester United.

Wolves were falling apart and dangerman Hoilett in particular was having a field day.

He teased and tormented the defence before rolling the ball inches wide, with Hennessey getting a glove to it to concede a corner.

From the flag-kick, Steven Fletcher nodded Samba's header off the line.

Samba was then booked for blocking Jarvis getting to Ward's through ball before Craddock flashed a rising left-footed effort over.

But Wolves continued to look shaky at the back and they conceded a third goal in the first minute of time added on when Hoillet latched onto a flick-on from Roberts and beat Craddock and Elokobi before lashing past Hennessey.

There was still time for Craddock to be booked for shoving Roberts to the ground before the half-time whistle sounded to a deafening chorus of boos around Molineux.

As things stood, Wolves would be relegated on goal difference.

McCarthy made an attacking switch at the break, bringing on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for Michael Mancienne, who needed treatment right at the end of the first half.

The switch meant Ward went to left-back, with Elokobi at centre-half.

Wolves started the second half brightly, creating two good chances in the opening minutes.

Stephen Hunt should have done better when he planted a free header wide from Jarvis' cross after the wingers swapped flanks.

Then Ebanks-Blake sent a powerful rising drive over.

But there were suddenly cheers around Molineux as news filtered through that Tottenham had taken the lead against Birmingham.

That meant that, as things stood, Wolves would be safe on goals scored and Blues would go down with Wigan and West Ham.

Wolves needed to concentrate on matters on the pitch though as Blackburn went desperately close to a fourth goal in the 56th minute.

Only the fingertips of Hennessey prevented Roberts' goalbound effort going in after Kevin Foley missed Brett Emerton's low cross to leave the former Albion striker one on one.

There was a long delay to allow treatment to Ward after he was left grounded and groggy after a collision with Salgado.

There was better news coming through elsewhere though after Manchester United equalised to make it 2-2 against Blackpool as Ward came back on.

Wolves boosted their survival hopes through their own means in the 73rd minute when they pulled a goal back.

O'Hara was the scorer, lashing home first-time from 15 yards after peeling away from a crowd of players to meet Hunt's smart pass.

A minute later Robinson showed superb reactions to tip over Fletcher's glancing header.

And although Manchester United went 3-2 ahead against Blackpool, Wolves slipped back into the bottom three on goal difference after Blues equalised at Tottenham and Wigan took the lead at Stoke.

The drama was almost unbearable and with the crowd chanting 'we only need one more', Wolves duly delivered in the 87th minute as Hunt curled home a spectacular effort after Fletcher flicked on.

Hunt was swallowed up by a swarm of gold shirts as Molineux erupted in scenes of wild jubilation.

As we approached the fourth minute of time added on, there were more roars around the ground when Spurs went 2-1 ahead against Blues to leave Wolves safe on goals scored.

With both teams now safe, they were happy to play out the final seconds in a stand-off before the final whistle, which was greeted by huge roars all around the ground.