Cameron relieves the pressure with master strike for Wolves

Stoke City 0 Wolves

A wonderful strike from Colin Cameron and a late second from Nathan Blake ensured that Dave Kevan's first match as caretaker manager of Stoke City ended in a disappointing home defeat. The result was a welcome one for Kevan's opposite number Dave Jones – Wolves had lost five of their previous six league outings.

Kevan took charge after Steve Cotterill walked out to become Howard Wilkinson's right-hand man at Sunderland. He was boosted by the return of Brynjar Gunnarsson to his midfield and Andy Cooke also came in up front for Stoke. Neither were able to make much of an impact in the first half, a tense and tangled affair, during which scoring opportunities were rarely glimpsed. For that, some credit went to Wolves tyro centre-halves; the debuting 19-year-old Mark Clyde and his partner, 20-year-old Joleon Lescott. Indeed, from this base Wolves built the first strike, a 25-yard zinger from Shaun Newton that skipped wide.

Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray fumbled Jurgen Vandeurzen's left-wing cross in the 16th minute but Stoke could not capitalise and Cameron made his first vital intervention of the game when he cleared for a corner. Cameron, back in the Wolves' side after a lengthy spell out through injury, blazed a couple of 25-yard efforts high over the bar. Looseners; from him, there would be more to come.

Back in the maelstrom of the first half, Denis Irwin's left-wing cross created havoc in the Stoke defence and, as the ball bobbled around, Blake and Kenny Miller failed to apply the crucial touch. Stoke were relieved to get the ball away.

Miller next forced a good save from Neil Cutler two minutes before the interval and seconds later, at the other end, Murray had to be alert to turn away Peter Hoekstra's rasping shot after he latched onto Cooke's cute flick.

Miller had another great opportunity two minutes after the interval, but this time hooked his effort over the bar from six yards.

Gunnarsson tamely drove wide for the hosts before Stoke full-back Clive Clarke slipped, allowing Newton to race clear but he could not find the killer final ball.

Jones' side continued to press forward and Alex Rae forced a superb save from Cutler after Miller picked him out. The Scot had a good effort blocked moments later before Blake screwed a shot narrowly wide on the hour. Wolves were in the ascendency.

Blake played a great one-two with Miller but his drilled effort was deflected wide and from the resulting corner Cutler superbly tipped Clyde's header around the post.

The pressure was mounting. Rae put another chance narrowly wide before the dam broke. And how. Cameron picked the ball up 35 yards out and beat four Stoke defenders before his deflected shot beat Cutler. A master strike. Slightly more prosaically – but only slightly – Blake wrapped up the points when he burst down the left and cut inside, before firing in from the edge of the box.

Stoke City 0 Wolves 2
Cameron 78, Blake 90

Half-time: 0-0 Attendance: 16,885