Watford 2 Wolves 3 - verdict

Wolves returned to winning ways with a rollercoaster win at Watford. Watch Tim Nash's video verdict by clicking the play button.

Mick McCarthy's side, stinging after three defeats in four games, were in no mood for the depressing run to continue.

They took the lead three times against a typically uncompromising Watford and managed to hold on at the death, with two superb goal-line clearances from Kevin Foley.

Chris Iwelumo had given Wolves the perfect start with a brave effort after just 42 seconds, before he was clattered by keeper Richard Lee.

The goal helped ease the pain of the big strikers horror miss for Scotland against Norway two weeks ago, which crucially paved the way for a much improved performance from the former Charlton man.

Wolves' excellent start was checked by a 20th minute equaliser by Grzegorz Rasiak, before Dave Jones restored the visitors' lead with a beautiful, curling free kick five minutes before the break.

Watford clawed themselves back into the game with a 47th minute equaliser from John-Joe O'Toole, after keeper Carl Ikeme had failed to deal with a Tommy Smith free kick.

Wolves then rode their luck as Smith missed a penalty in the 61st minute before Mickey Gray - on his first League start of the season - bagged a priceless 71st minute winner.

The visitors were pushed all the way, as Watford pushed desperately for an equaliser and the visitors were indebted to in-form Foley, who made two superb goal-line clearances in the 80th and 81st minute.

First, he cleared O'Toole's shot off the line with Ikeme beaten, then he threw himself infront of substitute Jobi McAnuff's point-blank effort.

Ikeme was protected by some stout defending from Neill Collins and full debutant Jason Shackell, who headed away numerous crosses as Watford pushed despertately for a third equaliser at the end.

Wolves fourth away win of the season puts them back on track, after a difficult few weeks during which they had conceded 12 in the previous four games.

Manager McCarthy's 'back to basics' approach appeared to be in evidence at Vicarage Road as the visitors - wearing a bizarre combination of black shirts and gold shorts - looked much more solid after their midweek horror show at Norwich.

It must be noted that both Watford goals were extremely scrappy.

Rasiak struck after a shot by Will Hoskins clipped the heels of Shackell, before being tipped onto the post by Ikeme.

O'Toole's effort from almost on the line came after Ikeme appeared to have been beaten by Smith's free kick, from a similar position to where Sammy Clingan beat him on Tuesday.