Burnley 1-2 Wolves

Wolves hung on to claim three potentially crucial points in their battle against Barclays Premier League relegation at Turf Moor.

Matt Jarvis took advantage of a short Tyrone Mears back pass to put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute and a Clarke Carlisle own goal almost saw them home.

But a 73rd-minute header from substitute Steven Thompson gave the home side hope with Wolves forced into desperate defending to preserve their points.

Burnley boss Brian Laws made two changes to his side for their crucial Barclays Premier League relegation battle with Wolves at Turf Moor.

Wade Elliott replaced Steven Thompson and Andre Bikey was back in place of youngster Jack Cork as Laws understood the need to get back to winning ways.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side for the fifth successive game after admitting his pleasure with his side's display against Manchester United last time out.

Knowing a win would take them out of the relegation zone at their opponents' expense, Burnley started well with Chris Eagles and Graham Alexander both firing early efforts on target.

Wolves made their first move in the ninth minute when Kevin Foley crossed from deep on the left and found David Jones, whose header was caught low by Brian Jensen.

Jensen was booked in the 12th minute for racing out of his box and up-ending Doyle who was chasing a through-ball, with referee Steve Bennett deeming it was not a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Eagles continued to prove a handful on the left for the Clarets and he raced past Ronald Zubar in the 17th minute before firing in a cross which was cleared under pressure by Karl Henry. Danny Fox, always dangerous from set-pieces, launched a long-range free-kick in the 22nd minute which swirled towards goal and was tipped over by Marcus Hahnemann.

Wolves snatched the lead in farcical fashion in the 26th minute when Tyrone Mears' dismal back-header allowed Matthew Jarvis to nip in and round Jensen before dribbling the ball into the empty net.

Mears was given the chance to atone for his error in the 34th minute when he was played into the box by Elliott but his first touch ran away from him and Wolves cleared.

Burnley came close in the 44th minute when Mears knocked the ball down in the box for David Nugent, who swung a shot from eight yards which bounced down then up against the bar.

Wolves increased their lead with their first attack of the second half when Adlene Guedioura's miscued shot struck Carlisle's left ankle and took a wicked deflection past the helpless Jensen.

Burnley attempted to hit straight back when Martin Paterson chased the ball down the left and his cross into the box struck Christophe Berra, sparking appeals for handball.

Much to the home fans' consternation referee, Bennett waved play on - and that frustration increased 10 minutes later when boss Laws made the unpopular decision to replace Eagles with Steven Thompson.

Wolves almost made it three in the 59th minute when Henry lofted a neat through-ball which sent Doyle clear on the left, but his shot from a tight angle trickled across the face of goal.

Substitute Robbie Blake struck the post for the home side from a tight angle in the 65th minute and the striker's introduction looked to have breathed new life into the home side.

And Burnley gave themselves a lifeline in the 73rd minute when Graham Alexander ended a spell of pressure by lofting the ball into the Wolves box for substitute Thompson to head home.

Blake fired low into Hahnemann's arms as Mick McCarthy's men suffered a severe attack of nerves then Berra was booked for hauling down Nugent as he tried to run through.

The last chance fell to Blake in injury time but the striker's rising shot from eight yards was parried by Hahnemann and the home side's hopes were over.