Bull and Stowell see Wolves through

Football: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Birmingham City 1

Football

PHIL SHAW

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Birmingham City 1

Steve Bull's 10th goal of the season ultimately secured Wolves' first victory in seven games under Mark Mc-Ghee's management - with 10 men for the final 25 minutes to boot - yet the player Birmingham were cursing after last night's FA Cup third-round replay at Molineux was Mike Stowell.

Three minutes after Bull had put Wolves ahead for the second time, Stowell fumbled a shot by Jason Bowen. Steve Claridge's follow-up was handled on the line by Brian Law, who was already back in the dressing-room by the time his goalkeeper sprang to his left to beat out Jonathan Hunt's penalty and ensure that Wolves, rather than their neighbours, visit Tottenham in the fourth round.

Birmingham dominated territorially, but their manager, Barry Fry, said bluntly: "We can blame nobody but ourselves." After berating Claridge for giving Law the opportunity to keep out his shot, he added: "Wolves got the break they've been waiting for. They'll probably win the next seven now."

Fry had been forced to give a debut to his reserve keeper, Bart Griemink. The 6ft 3in Dutchman should have done better with the shot that gave Wolves a 17th-minute lead. Stowell's goal-kick was glanced on by Don Goodman to Bull, who laid the ball off to Darren Ferguson. Running at Michael Johnson, who backed off obligingly, the Manchester United manager's son hit a low drive from 20 yards to which Griemink got a hand but failed to keep out.

Birmingham equalised in the 52nd minute when Hunt, a half-time substitute, scored off a post from similar range to Ferguson after Mark Atkins' sloppy midfield pass became a quickfire counter-attack.

Wolves' winner arrived 10 minutes later. Bull's poor first touch in pursuit of Simon Osborn's pass allowed Johnson to come between him and the goal. His second, an angled drive, looped off the defender and over Griemink.

Law, one of seven cautioned during a less than fiery first half, then paid for Stowell's error. Hunt, who missed from the spot at Norwich last week and scored a penalty against Charlton on Sunday, struck the ball well enough, only for the true villain of the piece to redeem himself.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-5-2): Stowell; Young, Venus, Law; Rankine, Osborn, Atkins, Ferguson, Thompson; S Bull, Goodman. Substitutes not used: Foley, Pearce, Daley.

Birmingham City (3-5-2): Greimink; Edwards, Johnson, Daish; Poole, Forsyth, Castle (Hunt, h-t), Richardson (Bowen, h-t), Frain; Francis (G Bull, 71), Claridge.

Referee: R Hart (Darlington).