Wolves 3 Swindon 2 - match report

A freak goal from Scott Golbourne in the third minute and a first of the season from Kevin Doyle two minutes before the break only told part of the story as Kenny Jackett's side were outplayed for long periods.

Only superb saves from Ikeme to deny Ryan Mason in either half and Nathan Thompson after the break kept Swindon from replying earlier, while Mason rolled one clean-through effort wide and also hit the post in the second half.

Swindon finally got their reward through substitute Dany N'Guessan (81) before another substitute, Kevin Foley, restored Wolves' two-goal advantage only for Mason's free kick to make it a dramatic finish on the stroke of full-time before the hosts hung on through four minutes of time added on.

Wolves, with David Davis looking out of sorts, never looked comfortable playing the diamond formation in midfield that served them so well in the second half of the 3-1 win at Port Vale, and Jackett switched to a more orthodox 4-4-2 for the restart.

Jackett made five changes to the side that overcame Walsall on penalties in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 11 days ago.

Back came Cael Ikeme, Sam Ricketts, Lee Evans, Kevin Doyle and Leigh Griffiths for Aaron McCarey, George Elokobi, Jack Price, Bjorn Sigurdarson and Liam McAlinden.

The side showed two notable exceptions from the Vale game two weeks ago, with Richard Stearman losing his ever-present starting record and dropping to the bench as Ricketts moved across to centre-back to accommodate Golbourne at left-back.

Jackett's side lined up in a diamond formation in midfield, with Davis as anchorman in front of the back four, Evans and Bakary Sako either side tucked in with Kevin McDonald behind Doyle and Griffiths.

Wolves scored from their first attack – and it was just as well they had that cushion as they needed it with Swindon going on to dominate the rest of the opening period.

Golbourne was the unlikely scorer with a highly unusual goal, his deep cross from out near the left-hand touchline somehow eluding keeper Wes Foderingham and flying into the top corner of the net.

It was the former Bristol City and Reading left-back's first goal for his new club since his £700,000 move from Barnsley last month.

But he seemed almost embarrassed to celebrate as he walked away in near disbelief.

Swindon were undeterred by falling behind and went on to dominate possession for the rest of the first half.

Thankfully for Wolves, their threats were mainly from distance, with Nicky Ajose cutting inside for the first effort before seeing his shot saved at the foot of the post by Carl Ikeme in the ninth minute.

Ten minutes later, Ryan Mason fired well wide on the run after McDonald lost possession in midfield.

Massimo Luongo was next to try his luck, but he fired high and wide after Ricketts missed out to Nile Ranger on 21.

Wolves had barely been seen as an attacking force but they returned to the attack in the 25^th minute.

Some superb footwork then a flighted pass from Sako set Griffiths free, but although the Scotland international controlled the ball beautifully, his sidefooted shot was turned away by Foderingham.

Swindon soon hit back however and only two superb saves by the ever-alert Ikeme kept Wolves' lead intact.

First he did brilliantly to deny Mason's shot in the 29^th minute, then he beat away Alex Pritchard's angled drive two minutes later.

Wolves' inability to keep the ball meant they were continually on the back foot and defending, and it wasn't until the 37^th minute that they broke again to see Sako's long-range drive deflected for a corner.

But against the run of play, the hosts somehow conjured up a second goal two minutes from the break.

Doyle started and finished the move, freeing Griffiths with a chip over the top but the chance seemed lost when the latter over-ran the ball and ended up on the byeline with a defender up his backside.

But he conjured up a superb cross for Doyle to head home from almost on the line for his first goal of the season and send Wolves into the break with an unlikely and barely deserved 2-0 lead.

If Wolves had rode their luck in the first half, the pattern continued after the break.

Dangerman Mason somehow sidefooted wide after a one-two split the Wolves midfield and defence on 57.

Mason then saw his stabbed effort deflected wide from point-blank range from Pritchard's centre as Wolves' goal led a charmed life.

Wolves perhaps received their biggest let-off in the 63rd minute however when Pritchard's through ball was allowed to trickle through the home backline and Mason, clean through, was faced with only Ikeme to beat and picked his spot, only for his shot to hit the base of the post and bounce away to safety.

A truly magnificent save from Ikeme left Molineux buzzing on 71 when the keeper flung himself across goal to keep out Nathan Thompson's flying header.

Then came the late drama.

N'Guessan finally earned some reward for Swindon when he powered home after Wolves were beaten by a through ball into the box.

Foley kept his composure to lift the ball over Foderingham from fellow substitute Sigurdarson's cross to make it 3-1 to Wolves only for Mason to finally get on the scoresheet with a superb curling free kick that gave Ikeme no chance.

There was still time for a change of referee as Gary Sutton limped off with what appeared to be a calf strain to be replaced by assistant Amy Fearn in the second minute of time added on.

And Wolves hung on to make it five straight wins for the first time since November 2008 and set up an intriguing local derby at home to Walsall on Tuesday.