Spark fizzles out as Wolves lose pace on league leaders - match analysis and pictures

Wolves' bright first-half fire ended up being extinguished by determined Carlisle as they succumbed to a second-half fadeout at Brunton Park.

After playing some of their best football of the season for the first 25 minutes, the visitors were as bright as a damp sparkler following the break.

The moods of the two managers said everything about this game of two halves afterwards.

While Carlisle boss Graham Kavanagh talked of his "proudest moment" and a "magnificent performance", Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett accused his players of being outfought in the second half on a night when they could have drawn level with leaders Leyton Orient.

The draw meant Wolves' hopes of a club record sixth consecutive away win went up in smoke.

But Jackett will be far more concerned with the way his team failed to reproduce their first-half sparkle and he conceded they were lucky to have come away with a point.

Wolves had to defend for much of the second period as the home side raised their game for the big draw in town.

It was a different story to start with, however, as Wolves took the lead in the first attack of the game.

Bakary Sako's stunning angled finish in the eighth minute was typically emphatic but it owed much to the anticipation and vision of Leigh Griffiths.

Midfielder Lee Evans later went from being hero to villain as he was taken off before being sent off after conceding Carlisle's equalising penalty.

But he shone in the first half and was pivotal in the opener, sliding in to win a tackle on David Amoo in the Wolves left-back spot.

The ball broke to Griffiths, who looked up before splitting the home defence with a diagonal ball inside the full-back.

Sako took a touch before drilling a fierce low shot from 18 yards across keeper Mark Gillespie.

Some of the one-touch football Wolves played in the opening 25 minutes matched anything they have produced this season, with Carlisle chasing shadows at times.

James Henry was again heavily involved in everything inventive Wolves produced in the first half as Carlisle showed them too much respect in the early stages.

A few meaty tackles signalled a swift change to Carlisle's approach in the build-up to an excellently-crafted equaliser in the 29th minute.

It was a goal that was as grand as his name as Prince Buaben produced a fantastic curling chip that dropped into the far corner of the net despite the attentions of Danny Batth and Sam Ricketts.

Wolves looked to hit back immediately and the lively Sako drilled against the inside of the post from 18 yards on the half-hour, Kevin Doyle unable to force home the rebound.

Carlisle were inches away from taking the lead for the first time when Liam Noble lashed wide after Amoo teed him up at the far post.

Wolves were always threatening on the break, however, and they went in front with another clinical finish.

It came from Griffiths, whose close-range header hit both posts before nestling in the net after Scott Golbourne teed up Henry for a left-wing cross.

There could be few complaints when Carlisle equalised within eight minutes of the restart.

Noble sent Carl Ikeme the wrong way from the spot after Evans pushed Buaben to the ground.

Evans was booked for the offence and when the 19-year-old Welshman committed another foul soon afterwards, Jackett swiftly replaced him with Jamie O'Hara.

Carlisle remained the more dominant side as the half wore on.