Naylor gives Ipswich play-off lifeline

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Ipswich Town 1

Just as it seemed promotion-chasing Wolves had claimed the three points that would have given the look of real permanence to their place in the top six, they were set back on their heels by a late Ipswich equaliser that just about keeps the Suffolk side in the hunt for a play-off place.

Paul Ince, who sits out Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton through suspension, had put the home side ahead three minutes into the second half with his third goal of the season.

It would have been the perfect parting gift from the Wolves captain, whose side had dominated most of the match, had the Ipswich substitute Richard Naylor not headed his side level with five minutes left.

Wolves stay sixth and, while Ipswich still have ground to make up, their recovery from a dreadful start has been impressive. Once fourth from bottom, they have now lost only twice in their last 13 First Division games.

Had they beaten Wolves at home two weeks ago, Royle's team would themselves have secured a top-six place, which gave them particular reason to seek to avenge a 4-2 defeat.

However, they seldom looked like troubling the home side until the closing stages as the only thing lacking from a vibrant Wolves performance was a convincing finish.

Even though they had to replace the injury-prone George Ndah, one of the scorers at Portman Road, with a long-term absentee, Nathan Blake, who lacked match fitness after a four-month lay-off, Wolves' movement and passing were impressively slick. However, Blake, Kenny Miller, Colin Cameron and Mark Kennedy all wasted chances to make their dominance count.

Within three minutes of the restart, however, Wolves were in front, Ince demonstrating that at least he could finish, controlling his former Manchester United team-mate Denis Irwin's pass from the right before smashing the ball past Andy Marshall from 12 yards.

As an attacking force, Ipswich had been almost anonymous, but Naylor stunned the home side after only two minutes on the field when he headed home from his fellow substitute Martin Reuser's free-kick. Indeed, they might have stolen victory had Wolves' keeper Matt Murray not scrambled away another Reuser strike in stoppage time.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-2): Murray; Irwin, Butler, Lescott, L Naylor; Newton, Ince, Cameron, Kennedy; K Miller (Sturridge, 80), Blake (Proudlock, 63). Substitutes not used: Oakes (gk), Clyde, Rae.

Ipswich Town (3-4-1-2): Marshall; Holland, Gaardsoe, Makin; Wilnis (R Naylor, 82), T Miller, Wright, Richards; Magilton (Bowditch, h-t); Bent, Ambrose (Reuser, 80). Substitutes not used: Pullen (gk), Abidallah.

Referee: M Jones (Chester).