Bothroyd vindicates drop

A performance that relied on resilience was punctuated by Jay Bothroyd's touches of class to guide 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers to a winning start to their home campaign at Molinuex last night.

Bothroyd, signed just a week before the start of the season, scored the goal that defeated Ipswich Town in the 27th minute with a left-foot shot from 30 yards out, vindicating his decision to drop to the Championship when Charlton Athletic revoked the offer of a contract promised to the 24-year-old forward.

He lost his striking foil shortly after that effort when Carl Cort was dismissed for raising his hands against Gavin Williams, referee Trevor Kettle instantly producing a red card for the offence.

The punishment provoked fury on the Wolves bench but Mick McCarthy declined to comment. "I'll have a look at it first," the Wolves manager said. "We played some terrific stuff in the first half and were comfortably the better side."

His most anxious moment came when Jody Craddock needlessly felled Nicky Forster in the 18-yard area a minute before half-time but goalkeeper Matt Murray dived to his right and saved Matthew Richards' timid penalty attempt.

David McVay (telegraph.co.uk)