Chris McCann headed home a sixth-minute winner as Burnley beat Championship leaders Wolves on Saturday.
Burnley boost play-off hopes; Wolves with just one win in eight
Chris McCann headed home a sixth-minute winner to boost Burnley's play-off hopes and heap more pressure on Championship leaders Wolves.
The highly-rated midfielder connected with a firm header from Wade Elliott's cross to give Wanderers goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey no chance.
Mick McCarthy's men arrived at Turf Moor in the midst of a worrying run of form which has seen them win only one of their previous eight league matches.
And with Birmingham beating Nottingham Forest on Saturday and Reading having two games in hand on the league leaders, it was a crucial contest.
It was the Clarets who drew first blood, despite Wolves having the best of the opening 20 minutes, when McCann struck to put his side on course for victory.
Wolves sought to find an immediate response but Matt Jarvis rifled a 20-yard shot wide and Michael Kightly then did likewise.
The visitors should have drawn level in the 16th minute but the opportunity was spurned by Christophe Berra, who met Kightly's corner with a firm header which went wide of Brian Jensen's goal.
Burnley - whose commitment to attractive, passing football has won them many admirers this season - had chances themselves.
Elliott fired over from 25 yards and then Clarets skipper Steven Caldwell had a header parried by Hennessey.
Robbie Blake followed up with a shot from 12 yards but Wolves defender Richard Stearman was on hand to block his effort.
The Clarets reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and will face Cardiff or Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round.
Vibrant
The visit of Wolves was their 43rd game of the season so far but they looked more vibrant than their opponents for sustained periods.
Midfielder Nigel Quashie, on loan from West Ham, almost equalised for Wolves on the stroke of half-time when he struck a fierce shot from 25 yards which flew into Jensen's grateful arms.
Yet the Clarets had chances to increase their lead and in the 56th minute McCann drilled in a shot from close range which forced Hennessey into an impressive save.
Moments later Martin Paterson hit a shot which Berra did well to clear.
The Clarets wasted a golden opportunity to forge two goals ahead in the 57th minute when Blake delivered an out-swinging corner from the right and Caldwell headed wide.
McCarthy had seen enough by then and replaced Quashie and the ineffective Sam Vokes with David Edwards and Chris Iwelumo.
Scotland international striker Iwelumo drilled in a right-footed shot which Jensen dealt with comfortably but Burnley also had chances as substitute Kevin McDonald fired just wide and then saw a 20-yard strike repelled by Hennessey.
Berra then headed wide for Wolves and McCann fired over from 12 yards for Burnley, who were grateful that Karl Henry shot wide from 25 yards in the closing stages.
