Step closer to promotion but not plain sailing for Wolves - match analysis and pictures

The road to promotion was always going to be a long one and this hard-earned point wasn't so much a pothole as a mere dip in their path, writes Tim Nash.

The end is in sight and the finish line looming a little clearer. But a pumped-up Stevenage were willing highwaymen in disrupting Wolves' journey last night.

In truth, Kenny Jackett's side could have few complaints at the outcome after a pulsating encounter. That it ended in stalemate was down to their own missed chances and the smart reflexes of keeper Carl Ikeme.

As regards chances, Wolves had to look at the forlorn figure of Leon Clarke in their struggle to unpick Stevenage's padlocked goal.

Clarke missed two chances that he might have buried in a Coventry shirt, but it was another reminder that nothing comes easy for him at his home-town club.

But unlike the Crawley clash, Wolves had two elements in their favour this time – a slick pitch on which to play their passing football and more energy.

The latter was vital in a breathless encounter that throbbed from end to end and from start to finish.

But it was Wolves who were ultimately the more disappointed of the teams at the final whistle as Lee Evans, hands on his head in frustration, summed up the mood in the visitors' dressing room.

The substitute had re-energised Wolves when he replaced Liam McAlinden 17 minutes from time.

It was Evans who lashed over in the final of the four minutes of added time as another attack came to nothing.

But it was when the youngster forced a superb save from keeper Chris Day in the 80th minute that you started to sense Wolves weren't going to continue their winning run.

Wolves suffered an unwanted disruption when James Henry was forced off with a groin injury after just 11 minutes.

They had a sight of goal in the 22nd minute when McAlinden – making his first League start for the club – and Nouha Dicko combined to free Clarke, but his toe-poked shot lacked the power required and Day scampered across to collect.

The visitors started to enjoy more possession as the half wore on, with McAlinden finding pockets of space.

It was Clarke, however, who was the beneficiary of Wolves' only real opportunity of the first period when he was presented with a free header at the far post on the half-hour.

But the burly striker, leaning back, could only nod inches wide after Dicko's fiercely-hit cross had been parried by Day. Wolves had a scare on 39 minutes – and it was all their own doing.

Defending a low corner, Kevin McDonald attempted to hook the ball clear at the near post only to slice it dangerously behind him. Ikeme clawed the ball away to spare his blushes.

Wolves, who switched to 4-3-3 at the restart with Dicko and McAlinden wide either side of Clarke, made a determined start to the second half.

Dicko and McAlinden had shots blocked, but Wolves had trouble breaking down a resolute defence superbly marshalled by captain and centre-back Jon Ashton.

In fact it was Stevenage who threatened next, on the break as Francoi Zoko's pass gave Jimmy Smith a sight of goal; he got a yard on Danny Batth and saw an angled volley tipped over by Ikeme.

More Wolves pressure saw Michael Jacobs put Clarke clean through on 71 minutes, but his body language was unconvincing and his sidefooted shot was far too close to Day.

Evans had a half-chance for a spectacular winner late on, but lashed over a full-blooded volley. But a draw was a fair result.