Wolverhampton 2-0 Burnley

Wolves pulled three points clear of the drop zone after goals from Nenad Milijas and Kevin Doyle secured a 2-0 win over Burnley at Molineux.

Mick McCarthy went into Sunday's Premier League game under huge pressure to get a result after he opted to rest 10 first-team regulars at Old Trafford in midweek, and despite riding their luck at times against the plucky Clarets, he will be delighted to see his men collect all three points.

Wolves made a bright start and took a 16th-minute lead when Milijas tapped into an unguarded net from 12 yards after Brian Jensen had failed to hold Matt Jarvis' shot.

The Clarets were finding openings hard to come by and Kevin McDonald wasted their best opportunity of the first period when he dragged his shot wide of the far post after good work by Chris Eagles.

The hard-working Doyle then had a great opportunity to double Wolves' lead after he had beaten the offside trap to run on to a chip over the Burnley defence from Milijas. But the Republic of Ireland striker was foiled by Jensen who blocked his shot with his outstretched right leg.

Burnley came out for the second half in a determined manner but it was Wolves who doubled their lead on 50 minutes when Doyle outmuscled Stephen Caldwell before turning inside Michael Duff and firing past Jensen. The striker ripped off his shirt in celebration and the Irishman picked up the obligatory yellow card for his efforts.

The Clarets were unlucky not to register when Kevin Foley was well placed to clear Caldwell's header off the line as Burnley stepped up the pressure.

But Burnley were grateful to Jensen who pulled off a fantastic save to push out Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's header from close range, while the Dane was at it again moments later to deny the Wolves frontman a second time.

Owen Coyle's side continued to press but there was no way through as Wolves held on to the victory that lifts them above Sunday's opponents on goal difference and up to 12th in the Premier League table.