By Scott Cooper
February 19 2006

WOLVES first penalty of the season moved Wolves to within 5 points off the play off places as Ipswich Town lost their first game in nine at Molineux on a sunny but chilly day at Molineux.

Nobody is kidding themselves yet but two wins in a week has moved Wolves back towards the play off places and Wolves, probably temporarily, sit 5 points from the play off spaces. Considering the gap was 9 points just a week ago it proves how quickly football can change.

With Preston not playing due to their FA Cup game (but now having a game in hand) and Crystal Palace unable to beat Millwall it means Wolves sit seven point from Iain Dowies men and 5 points from Preston.

With Hull, QPR and Stoke City approaching, Glenn Hoddles men should be able to put "that run" together which the former England Manager has promised all season, but losing against Hull City in 6 days time would put Wolves straight back to square one.

The performance against Ipswich wasn't the best. Infact it was Ipswich who showed most of the imagination, passed the ball as Hoddle likes his Wolves side to pass and created much the better chances.

However this past week Wolves have collected 6 points, not by neat passing, not by beautiful football but by grinding out results and winning games perhaps they didn't deserve to win.

The Burnley boss believed his side deserved something from the game on Tuesday night and Joe Royle will rightly believe the same of the game at Molineux on Saturday, but the fact Wolves claimed six points from the two games remains.

Hoddle was forced to leave Paul Ince out of the squad on Saturday and with Mark Kennedy injured it lead to a start for Ince's co former England International Darren Anderton. Mark Davies continued in the starting line up, as did Maurice Ross. Jody Craddock continued at the back whilst the attacking duo of Cort, Miller and Frankowski were employed as strikers/wingers.

Wolves should have taken the lead within the first 30 seconds. A bright start, followed by a cross from Lee Naylor found Rosa, but the Hungarian International blazed over from six yards out.

Kenny Miller saw his shot well saved before Ipswich briefly rallied before the break, but Stefan Postma was equal to everything the Tractor Boys threw at him.

The second half possession and chances belonged to Ipswich, but it was Wolves who scored the only goal of the game.

Hoddle replaced the quiet Frankowski with Aliadiere and the Frenchmans pace took him into the box. Ipswich defender Castro took down the Arsenal striker - currently on loan at Molineux - and the lively Kenny Miller dispatched Wolves first penalty of the season

It wasn't pretty, but we'll take the three points. A win against Hull now is a must.