May 6 2012
Molineux said farewell to the Barclays Premier League with a goalless draw against Everton as Wolves avoided an unwanted place in the record books.
One more home defeat would have made it 14 for the season and 10 in a row, equalling records both held by Sunderland, but Terry Connor's side battled hard to deny an Everton side fighting for seventh place.
David Moyes' men certainly had the better of the chances and twice had the ball in the back of the net, but Nikica Jelavic and Denis Stracqualursi were both denied by offside flags.
Despite the scoreline, it was an open game with chances for both sides, and arguably the best of the first-half opportunities came in only the fifth minute when Marouane Fellaini's flicked header landed at the feet of Tim Cahill 10 yards out but he shot straight at Dorus De Vries.
Jelavic had scored six goals in his last four league games and he had his first sight of goal in the 14th minute when he was found by Phil Jagielka's long diagonal pass, but Richard Stearman stayed with the striker and did very well to block his shot.
Kevin Doyle and James McFadden both snatched at chances while Leon Osman wanted a penalty when he went down under a challenge from Michael Kightly, but referee Lee Mason was unmoved.
It would have been a very memorable day for Tony Hibbert had he netted his first goal for Everton after more than 300 games, and his fierce volley would certainly have tested De Vries had Stephen Ward not got his body in the way.
Moyes sent on Stracqualursi for McFadden and he was into the action immediately with a shot that was well blocked by Ward, while Sylvan Ebanks-Blake replaced Steven Fletcher for Wolves.
The visitors had the ball in the net for a second time moments later as Jelavic's cross was turned in by Stracqualursi at the far post but again it was ruled out for offside, although it was Fellaini, who had also lunged for the ball, who was the culprit.
Everton continued to press but the Wolves defence held firm to earn their first home point since December.