Craddock brace earns point

Jody Craddock scored a brace as Wolves came from two goals down to earn a point against Stoke at the Britannia.

Craddock hits second-half brace to earn Wolves a share of the spoils

Jody Craddock scored a second-half brace as Wolves came from two goals down to earn a point against Stoke at the Britannia. The Potters took the lead in the 17th minute through a George Elokobi own goal after Matthew Etherington crossed from the left towards James Beattie in the box. Etherington then doubled the advantage a minute before the interval after a Rory Delap throw-in was headed onto him by Christophe Berra. He controlled the ball with his chest before unleashing an unstoppable volley into the top of the net. But Wolves pulled a goal back two minutes after the re-start after substitute Nenad Milijas put in a free-kick from the right, Berra flicked the ball on in the box and Craddock tapped in at the far post. Craddock then earned his side a share of the spoils in the 64th minute when he headed home a Milijas corner at the near post. Wolves striker Michael Kightly had the first attempt on goal after good play by Kevin Doyle but Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen was not troubled by his 30-yard drive. Berra was fortunate to escape a booking after a late challenge on Ricardo Fuller, who was celebrating his 30th birthday, as the game got under way at a frenetic pace. Fuller was coming in for early rough treatment and was again chopped down by Craddock. From Whelan's resulting free-kick, the home side appealed in vain after the ball appeared to strike the arm of David Edwards in the defensive wall on the edge of the box.

Went ahead

Fuller glanced a header wide from a long Delap throw-in before Stoke went ahead after 17 minutes. Sorensen started the move with a quick throw out to Etherington who outstripped Wolves right-back Ronald Zubar before crossing the ball into the box. Wolves defender Elokobi could only deflect the ball into his own net when under severe pressure from Beattie. Soon afterwards, Beattie looked in serious trouble when he went down clutching his knee after falling awkwardly and it was a surprise when he was able to continue after treatment. Etherington was causing Wolves problems and a pass picked out the run of Fuller but he was crowded out as he lined up a shot and Beattie then drilled his attempt from a narrow angle over the bar. Beattie then forced a fine one-handed save out of Hennessey away to his right from a deep centre by Ryan Shawcross. Kightly became the first player to be yellow-carded for hauling down Etherington in full flight after 35 minutes. Midfielder Edwards also went in referee Chris Foy's notebook after a challenge on Abdoulaye Faye six minutes before the interval. It came as no surprise when Etherington doubled Stoke's lead a minutes before the interval. Berra headed clear a Delap throw but Etherington chested the ball down and volleyed home from the edge of the Wolves box in superb style to give a truer picture of Stoke's dominance.

Second period

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy made a half-time substitution, bringing on Milijas in place of Segundo Castillo. And within two minutes, Milijas had played a role in reducing the arrears. His in-swinging free-kick was flicked on by Berra and at the far post Craddock was on hand to bundle the ball over the line from what appeared an offside position. Stoke were stunned by this early reversal and Sorensen needed to be alert to deal with a powerful free-kick from a similar position by Milijas. Elokobi completed a trio of Wolves bookings after bringing down the impressive Etherington in full flight. Beattie was only just off target after attacking a near post cross from Shawcross but after 64 minutes Craddock struck for the second time to bring Wolves on level terms. Milijas was again the creator with a near post corner and no-one picked up Craddock whose flicked header flew past Sorensen. Faye could have grabbed a winner for Stoke late on but sent his free header over the bar from an Etherington corner.

Stoke City	Team Statistics	Wolverhampton Wanderers
2	Goals	2
2	1st Half Goals	0
2	Shots on Target	4
5	Shots off Target	3
1	Blocked Shots	4
4	Corners	3
14	Fouls	16
2	Offsides	2
0	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0
55.2	Passing Success	66.6
19	Tackles	15
68.4	Tackles Success	73.3
44.4	Possession	55.6
43.1	Territorial Advantage	56.9