Wolves extended their winning streak to seven matches as they overcame Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Blades defeated by Championship leaders at Bramall Lane
Wolves extended their winning streak to seven matches as they overcame Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Mick McCarthy's men, who hold a six-point cushion at the top of the Championship table, forged ahead when in-form striker Chris Iwelumo rounded Paddy Kenny to slot home early on.
Brian Howard thought he had equalised when his inswinging corner was clawed out by substitute goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, but the referee waved play on.
Iwelumo then added a second to take his tally for the season to 13, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake made it 3-0 before Matthew Spring netted a consolation for the hosts.
It was the away side who proved their class after just five minutes as Iwelumo, who bagged both goals in Saturday's 2-0 win over Blackpool, netted the opener.
England under-21 player Michael Kightly split the home defence and Iwelumo used his strength to shrug off his markers and round Kenny before firing home from a tight angle.
Carl Ikeme had to alert to deny an onrushing Billy Sharp shortly after, while Halford headed over from three yards when it looked easier to score.
Neill Collins failed to hit the target with a header at the other end before Kightly came within inches of adding a classy second from the edge of the area after twisting the Blades defence inside out.
Dominant
United enjoyed a dominant spell as the half wore on but failed to really test Ikeme due to a resilient Wolves backline.
But the keeper was called into action with a stunning one-handed reaction save 10 minutes before the break to push aside Matt Kilgallon's thunderous volley from Halford's long throw-in.
Ikeme was then forced off due to injury just before the interval to cap an astonishing 45 minutes that saw the Wolves shot-stopper, David Edwards and Gary Speed all leave the pitch with various problems.
The home side flew out of the blocks with a point to prove at the start of the second half and could count themselves unlucky not to have drawn level almost immediately.
Howard's corner evaded everyone at the near post and Hennessey looked to palm the ball out from behind the line.
However, to the frustration of everyone in red and white, the referee's assistant kept his flag firmly by his side.
Hennessey produced a fine save to tip James Beattie's half-volley onto a post and wide after Richard Stearman's failed clearance shortly after.
But United then found themselves 2-0 down just before the hour mark as Karl Henry burst down the left side of the penalty area and flashed a cross into the area for Iwelumo to blast home from 10 yards out.
The game was over as a contest in the 63rd minute when Ebanks-Blake received a pass from Kightly before smashing a powerful effort past Kenny's near post and into the top corner.
Spring's neat finish from inside the area gave the Blades just reward for their efforts but it was Wolves boss Mick McCarthy who went away the happier of the two managers as Collins and Darius Henderson hit the woodwork at either end late on.
