Northampton 1 Wolves 3 - analysis and pictures

With one deadly swing of his left foot last night, Bakary Sako suggested there can be plenty to look forward to in the 'new Wolves' being built by Stale Solbakken.

The £3m-plus signing from St Etienne stunned Sixfields with an unstoppable 25-yard strike in the second minute of time added on to earn his new team a third round trip to Chelsea.

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Amid all the difficulty of getting a side to gel after seven departures and seven signings this summer, Sako's debut goal at least suggested Solbakken's work is beginning to pay dividends.

Sako, whose international clearance only came through with hours to spare along with that of fellow debutants Georg Margreitter and Razak Boukari, is the man so much is hoped for in this vibrant new-look side emerging under Solbakken.

And the skilful Frenchman did his best to suggest that older Wolves and newer Wolves can merge to form the basis of the promotion challenge that fans expect and demand.

Watching all 10 outfield players converge on the scorer to celebrate his goal suggested both new boys and old guard are willing to forge a team spirit so vital to success.

Sako's strike sealed a much-improved second half display by Solbakken's side after a first-half show as unconvincing as the first senior goals for the club from Danny Batth (16) and Frank Nouble (45).

Wolverhampton-born Clive Platt's equaliser five minutes before the break was no more than the Cobblers deserved after starting brightly and bombarding Wolves with set-pieces.

Former Walsall striker Alex Nicholls and Ben Tozer finished poorly from early half chances.

But after weathering the early storm, Wolves took the lead with their first serious attack in fortuitous fashion.

Anthony Forde's corner hit Batth on the knee to squirt past 17-year-old rookie keeper Dean Snedker from six yards out.

But, just like against Derby on Saturday, taking the lead didn't settle Wolves down.

Instead, a careless pass by David Davis across midfield saw Northampton break again, but the impressive Chris Hackett's low shot was comfortable for Carl Ikeme.

Soon after, the alarm bells were sounding again for Wolves when David Artell couldn't react quickly enough to Hackett's corner and the defender only succeeded in heading the ball away from goal.

The goal the Cobblers had threatened duly arrived when Platt rose above the Wolves defence to plant home a firm header from Hackett's cross.

Wolves, however, broke to regain the lead in the first minute of time added on before the interval.

It was another scruffy goal, and Nouble knew little about it after watching his prodded attempt spin over the line after Boukari's deep cross had been helped back into the danger area by Forde.

Nevertheless, the goal was the perfect antidote to a patchy first 45 minutes and ensured Wolves came out revved up for a much-improved second half display in which the visitors failed to seriously threaten again.

Wolves enjoyed their best period of the game in the 20 minutes immediately after the restart when they had the chances to kill off the contest.

Bjorn Sigurdarson and Boukari saw efforts blocked, while Davis' sublime low, curling attempt was fingertipped away by Dean Snedker.

Batth was a fraction away from heading in Forde's vicious cross before captain-for-the-night Richard Stearman curled a shot straight at Snedker.

The keeper then bravely blocked from clean-through Davis, after Boukari's lob left the midfielder galloping clear.

Late on, substitute Slawomir Peszko saw his shot diverted wide by Joe Widdowson from Sigurdarson's cross.

But Wolves left the best until last as Sako's moment of class sealed the tie and clinched that date at Stamford Bridge.

Northampton (4-1-2-1-2): Snedker; East, Langmead, Artell, Widdowson; Tozer (Afinkenwe 57); Hackett, Harding; Guttridge; Platt (Moult 74), Nicholls (Mukendi HT). Subs not used: Charles, Demontagnac, Wilson, Heath (gk).

Wolves (4-4-2): Ikeme 6/10; Stearman 6, Batth 6, Margreitter 6, Elokobi 6; Boukari 6 (Sako 67, 7), Davis 6, Jonsson 5 (Doumbia 67, 6), Forde 7 (Peszko 67, 6); Sigurdarson 7, Nouble, 6. Subs not used: Berra, Hammill, Doherty, McCarey (gk).

Referee: D. Deadman (Cambs).

Attendance: 3,758 (671 Wolves fans).