Wolves 1–2 Stoke City: Visitors secure fourth straight win after Doyle own goal & Crouch strike complete comeback

Stoke City came from a goal down to beat Wolves 2-1 at Molineux thanks to a Kevin Doyle own-goal and Peter Crouch's header.

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Wolves took the lead from the penalty spot after 15 minutes through Stephen Hunt following Jonathon Woodgate’s foul on Matt Jarvis.

The visitor's equaliser came in fortuitous circumstances, as Huth's long range free-kick looked to be going wide but was deflected in off Doyle's knee before Crouch's stooping effort completed the comeback.

Mick McCarthy made two changes from the side that were easily beaten at Old Trafford last week, Nenad Milijas and Hunt coming in for David Edwards and Jamie O’Hara.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis changed his entire line-up from the Potters’ mid-week clash with Besiktas, with Crouch partnering Jonathan Walters up front.

The home side started the game in the ascendancy, Karl Henry prodding wide on the stretch in just the third minute.

Jarvis was looking threatening down the left-hand side and was causing problems for bit-part full-back Jonathon Woodgate, who picked up an early booking for tripping the winger.

And it was the same duel that resulted in Wolves being given the chance to take the lead, Jarvis again twisting and turning Woodgate inside out who could only trip him over in the penalty area.

Referee Anthony Taylor had no doubts and awarded a penalty which was swept home by Hunt.

Former England and Real Madrid defender Woodgate was left further embarrassed as Pulis immediately hauled him off after a torrid start to the game, with Jermaine Pennant being brought on.

Stoke tried to find a way back into the match but were found lacking in the final third and struggled to create any meaningful chances in front Wayne Hennessey’s goal.

Wolves looked the more likely to double their lead, as Hunt picked the ball up after a defensive mix-up but could only shoot straight at Thomas Sorensen when Steven Fletcher was better placed in the box.

Stoke finally managed to create a good opportunity just before the break, Walters playing Pennant in down the right and the former Arsenal man’s cross was left by Crouch for Matthew Etherington, who scuffed his effort - possibly being caught out by the former Tottenham man's decision not to shoot himself.

A tetchy start to the second half saw Milijas and Ryan Shawcross booked for late challenges and Walters miss a chance for Stoke to equalise, failing to react quickly enough after Etherington's cross evaded the Stoke centre-back and three Wolves defenders.

Stoke were having much more of the game in the second half and equalised just before the hour mark.

A long-range free-kick was sent crashing towards goal by Huth and ended up in the net after a deflection off Doyle in the Wolves wall.

The goal immediately lifted the tempo of the game, Glenn Whelan was perhaps fortunate not to be booked for clattering Henry but his midfield partner Dean Whitehead did end up in the referee’s notebook for barging Christophe Berra in the back, the Scotsman then picked up a booking minutes later following a challenge with Whitehead.

Stoke were well on top and Hennessey kept Wolves level with a superb save from Shawcross’ bullet header, but he was beaten moments later.

Jarvis hit a deep cross to the back post where Crouch was lurking to bundle the ball home from a tight angle and turn the game around in Stoke’s favour.

Mick McCarthy responded quickly, sending on Adlene Guedioura and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for Milijas and Doyle.

And Ebanks-Blake was soon in the thick of the action, heading over from Hunt's corner, before the Irish winger was withdrawn and replaced by Adam Hammill.

Pulis introduced fresh legs to his side as they looked to hold on to three vital points, with Wilson Palacios and Ricardo Fuller replacing the tired Glenn Whelan and Etherington.

Wolves pushed forward late on and despite five minutes of injury time and Roger Johnson playing as an auxiliary centre forward, the home side were unable to equalise and remain just one place above the Premier League drop zone.