Rae finds way to raise the spirit at Molineux

Wolverhampton 2 Darlington

By winning and scoring more than once in a match for the first time since the heady May day when they reached the Premiership via the play-off final, Wolves last night lifted some of the gloom that had enveloped Molineux like a motorway fog. Yet they made hard work of reaching the third round of the Carling Cup at Darlington's expense.

A goal by the stand-in captain, Alex Rae, Wolves' first in 506 minutes, eased their nerves late in the first half, while Joey Gudjonsson all but assured victory early in the second. But the header Steffen Iversen put over an unguarded net after 83 minutes - thereby spurning the chance to become top scorer with a princely two - was more typical of a scrappy display.

Any resemblance between this fixture and Saturday's stroll in the sun by Chelsea's exotic band was purely coincidental. Darlington do have a wealthy benefactor in George Reynolds, but he is no Roman Abramovich, his team lie 16th in the Third Division and, on a chilly, autumnal evening, an entire side of the stadium was closed due to lack of interest.

Wolves made six changes from the 5-0 weekend defeat, Dave Jones resting Paul Ince and Denis Irwin and giving first starts to Isaac Okoronkwo and to Oleg Luzhny. Matt Murray returned in goal after injury but was withdrawn with a recurrence of a back injury after half-time, having been almost a spectator during an opening period in which Darlington were pressed back without exactly being under siege.

Rae took Ince's armband and strove to inspire colleagues who were plainly short of confidence. The Scot had already headed over a Mark Kennedy cross when Darlington gave Murray his first cause for concern in the 34th minute. Ashley Nicholls' corner picked out Barry Conlon, who would soon have additional cause to rue his misdirected header.

Eight minutes before half-time, Lee Naylor worked the ball to Rae, who was 22 yards from goal. A powerful low shot evaded Andrew Collett's outstretched hand, the midfielder's first goal since he scored at Reading in last season's play-off semi-final.

Wolves doubled their lead in the 53rd minute. Kennedy and Naylor combined for the left-back to cross to the far post, where Collett fumbled under Iversen's challenge. Gudjonsson, on loan from Real Betis after being passed over by Aston Villa, volleyed in from a tight angle.

Instead of the floodgates opening for Wolves, Conlon had a header cleared off the line by Silas at the other end. "You could see our lack of confidence," Jones said, "but we did just enough."

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-2): Murray (Oakes, h-t) Luzhny, Craddock, Okoronkwo, Naylor; Gudjonsson (Newton, 82), Rea, Cameron, Kennedy; (L Clarke, 89) Silas, Iversen. Substitutes not used: Ingimarsson, Clingan,

Darlington (4-5-1): Collett; McGurk, Liddle, Hutchinson, Valentine; Hughes, Nicholls, Keltie, Clark, M Clarke; Conlon. Substitutes not used: Bossy, Mellanby, Pearson, Robson, Price (gk)

Referee: K Hill (Royston, Herts).