A 1-1 draw with Blackburn edged Wolves closer to Premier League safety on Saturday.
Blackburn draw puts Wolves seven clear of drop zone with two games to play
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was the hero as his late header edged Wolves closer to Premier League survival after a 1-1 draw with Blackburn.
Ryan Nelsen had handed Rovers a first-half lead before substitute Ebanks-Blake took less than two minutes to make his mark with a neat header with nine minutes remaining.
Defeat for Hull City, meanwhile, means the point moves Mick McCarthy's men seven points clear of the drop zone with two games remaining.
Anything less than a win for Burnley against Liverpool at Turf Moor on Sunday will mathematically keep Mick McCarthy's side in the division.
The results sparked jubilant scenes at Molineux, with the home fans invading the pitch upon the final whistle.
Ebanks-Blake scored 25 goals last season to help Wolves gain promotion from the Championship but the former Plymouth player has been a peripheral figure during the current campaign - until now.
Wolves enjoyed plenty of early possession but Blackburn could afford to play with freedom given their mid-table position.
The visitors almost caught Wolves on the counter-attack but Yildiray Basturk over-hit his cross to Martin Olsson who was in plenty of space on the far side of the box.
Early chances
Wolves had a sniff of a chance when a cross from Ward picked out the run of David Edwards but he directed his header back across the six-yard box instead of towards goal.
Blackburn came close to taking the lead with the first clear-cut opening after 19 minutes.
Nikola Kalinic climbed above the Wolves defence to meet a left-wing centre from Olsson and his header thudded against a post with Hahnemann well beaten.
Wolves were struggling to create chances but there was a rare moment of danger when Kevin Doyle's accurate centre was met by Edwards whose close-range effort was deflected for a corner.
David Jones drilled a shot into the side netting but after 28 minutes Nelsen stunned the home side by putting his team in front.
Pedersen's inswinging corner found its way right across the six-yard box to Nelsen who kneed the ball over the line from close range.
McCarthy decided to make a tactical switch after 36 minutes and brought on striker Chris Iwelumo for midfielder Edwards and reverted from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 formation.
Ward was looking dangerous down the left flank and was at the centre of most of Wolves' best moments.
In first-half injury-time Jody Craddock volleyed across goal from a narrow angle after Doyle had flicked on a Jones free-kick.
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce made a half-time switch with David Dunn replacing Basturk.
Salgado brought down Doyle 30 yards out and the resulting free-kick from Jones was bent over the defensive wall but turned around the post by Robinson.
Signs
There were signs of Wolves coming to life and Craddock volleyed over the bar after Iwelumo had flicked on a long throw from Elokobi.
Pedersen became the first player to be booked for a late challenge on Ronald Zubar.
Robinson failed to make full contact on a punch from Elokobi's long throw but Iwelumo was unable to take advantage and his shot bobbled through to the relieved keeper.
Rovers made a second change with former Wolves player Keith Andrews taking over from Kalinic.
Wolves conceded a free-kick when Hahnemann picked up a back-pass from Craddock but Dunn flashed his 20-yarder over the bar.
McCarthy brought on Nenad Milijas in midfield for Michael Mancienne after 67 minutes. Pedersen curled a 25-yard free-kick straight at Hahnemann and at the other end Milijas dragged a shot wide from a similar distance.
Doyle headed over from a Jones cross and then Hahnemann beat out a fierce attempt from Pedersen.
McCarthy brought on Ebanks-Blake for Kevin Foley with 11 minutes left - and 60 seconds later he brought Wolves back on level terms.
Ward's centre picked out the former Plymouth striker who headed back across Robinson into the corner of the net.
It was his first goal in open play in the Premier League for Wolves but could not have been more vital.
Hahnemann got his body behind another Pedersen effort with two minutes remaining and then Rovers substitute Franco Di Santo hit the post.
| Wolverhampton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
Blackburn Rovers |
| 1 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
7 |
| 9 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 4 |
Corners |
4 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
10 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 72 |
Passing Success |
58.5 |
| 14 |
Tackles |
18 |
| 71.4 |
Tackles Success |
88.9 |
| 58.3 |
Possession |
41.7 |
| 55.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
44.6 |
|
