Matthew Jarvis' strike earned Wolves a 1-0 victory at Tranmere and also a place in the FA Cup fourth round.
Midfielder earns Mick McCarthy's side a clash with Crystal Palace
A sole strike from Matthew Jarvis spared Wolves' blushes and earned them a place in the FA Cup fourth round against Crystal Palace.
The midfielder had wasted a golden opportunity for the visitors in the opening period but made amends when he raced on to Nenad Miljas' weighted through ball before powering past Luke Daniels.
League One strugglers Tranmere matched their Premier League opponents for long periods but were left to rue a howling error by Terry Gornell moments before Jarvis' breakthrough.
Gornell had the goal at his mercy after robbing the ball from goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey but somehow fired wide of the target from close range.
Rovers striker Craig Curran also drew a point blank save from Hennessey late on as Mick McCarthy's side held out for the victory.
Sub-zero temperatures at kick-off meant the Prenton Park pitch was only going to become more treacherous as the night went on and it took until the 17th minute for either side to create anything resembling a chance.
Jarvis whipped in a left-wing corner which Jody Craddock tried to flick on but Daniels was able to palm away the danger.
Tranmere produced the best passing move of the match in the 31st minute when they broke quickly from an inswinging Jarvis free-kick.
Centre-back Ian Goodison, charging down the left wing, and John Welsh exchanged several passes before the latter hit a shot with the outside of his right foot which Hennessey claimed above his head.
It at least sparked the game into life as Gareth Edds drilled a long-range shot at the goalkeeper, whose poor throw led to Welsh's left-foot half-volley from just inside the penalty area which was tipped around the post.
From Paul McLaren's corner Ian Thomas-Moore flicked a header to the far post where Kevin Foley nodded clear from under the crossbar.
Missed chances
Wolves should have taken the lead in the 35th minute when Chris Iwelumo flicked a header across the Tranmere penalty area and, with the defence static, Jarvis raced in but side-footed well wide of an open goal from seven yards.
Nine minutes into the second half Wolves were denied only by the brilliance of goalkeeper Daniels.
When Stephen Ward curled in a left-footed cross Ebanks-Blake rose highest and his header seemed destined for the top corner only for Daniels, on-loan from West Brom, to claw out the ball with his left hand and Goodison hooked clear.
Edds did well to block Ebanks-Blake's close-range shot from Milijas' corner as the pressure began to build on Tranmere.
However, Gornell had the best chance to put the Wirral side ahead in the 66th minute when he out-muscled Ward in the left-back spot.
The ball bounced towards goal but after sliding in and beating Hennessey with a solid challenge the striker picked himself to go past the goalkeeper only to shoot into the side-netting.
The game's one piece of real attacking quality in the 77th minute produced the winner.
Milijas threaded a brilliant ball between Tranmere's two central defenders and Jarvis ran on to hit a first-time shot past Daniels.
Tranmere pushed for the equaliser and right-back Shaleum Logan got the better of Ward close to the touchline but his cut-back to Thomas-Moore was slightly under-hit.
Five minutes from time Hennessey produced an instinctive block to deny Curran after a corner as Wolves held on.
| Tranmere Rovers |
Team Statistics |
Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 0 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 8 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 3 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 8 |
Corners |
7 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 44.4 |
Possession |
55.6 |
|
