Wolves 2-1 Bolton match report: The Sunday Mirror verdict

The pressure is on Gary Megson but off Mick McCarthy – for the time being at least.

That was the collateral effect of this particular fight for survival between two of the Premier League's endangered species.

Wolves lifted themselves above Bolton but, boy, was it a scrappy, desperate finish at Molineux that merited a government health warning for both sets of worried fans.

McCarthy’s men clung on for their first league win since September, after surrendering a two-goal cushion with some slipshod defending in the 79th minute that allowed Bolton substitute Johan Elmander to put the game on a knife-edge.

McCarthy said: “This was a fabulous response after our disappointing last game against Birmingham and just what we needed.

“We had to scrap a bit at the end, but we deserved to win.

McCarthy paid tribute to Serbian midfielder Nenad Milijas, a £2.6million summer signing from Red Star Belgrade, whose free-kick led to the first goal before capping a splendid display with a stunning second.

“That’s the performance I’ve been looking for from Milijas,” said McCarthy. “He coped with the physical side of the game, which he was unable to do when he first arrived from Red Star. If he plays like that every week, he will be selected.”

Megson complained that Jody Craddock’s opener was blatantly offside. “It was a shocking decision,” he said. “You did not need a camera for that, it was so obvious.

“I do not feel under pressure.  Pressure is being a soldier in Afganistan or being out of work.

“Results have not gone our way recently, but we are not a million miles off being in mid-table. If we play for 90 minutes like we did for the last 20 minutes against Wolves, we will be okay.”

Bolton and Wolves were forced to come to terms with the seriousness of their plight, highlighted by news of Portsmouth’s victory just before they took to the field, but it was Wolves who wasted little time asserting their authority.

A probe by reinstated striker Kevin Doyle was broken up unceremoniously by Jody O’Brien. Milijas swung the free-kick into the heart of the penalty area, where Sylvan Ebanks-Blake just failed to make contact, but the ball fell into the path of veteran defender Craddock, whose half-volley exploded into the top corner of the Bolton net.

Ivan Klasnic, playing as  Bolton’s sole striker with  Kevin Davies suspended, had first- half chances to equalise, forcing a save from Marcus Hahnemann and sending a long range drive over the bar.

It was easy to appreciate Wolves’ suspect confidence, but any tensions should have drained away with the arrival, and pure genius, of their second goal from Milijas in the 63rd minute.

Collecting the ball deep and wide on the right flank, Milijas cut in and unleashed a left-foot rocket from 30 yards that gave Jussi Jaaskelainen no chance.

However, Wolves found themselves hanging on for dear life for the last 11 minutes after they were dragged all over the place at a corner to allow Elmander to pull a goal back.