Matt Richards saw a first-half penalty saved as Town lost out to a brilliant Jay Bothroyd strike. Wolves playing the second-half with 10 men after Carl Cort was red carded.

Bothroyd struck just before the half hour mark with a 25 yard drive before Cort was dismissed after striking Gavin Williams.

Richards then had a great chance to level the scores on the half-time whistle after Jody Craddock brought down Nicky Forster but Matt Murray parried the ball to safety.

Jim Magilton made two changes from the team that lost to Palace on Saturday, Richards coming in for Darren Currie, Sito replacing Fabian Wilnis at right-back.

Richards was immediately in the action, sending a strike over the bar following Dean Bowditch's free-kick.

Alex Bruce picked up a second yellow card in successive games after bringing down Bothroyd on the quarter hour, Jamie Clapham's free-kick gathered by the commanding Shane Supple in an evenly contested start to the game.

Rohan Ricketts failed to get on the end of Cort's cross after the Wolves had robbed Jason De Vos while at the other end, a superb crossfield pass from Dan Harding released Jaime Peters but the Canadian's cross was comfortably cleared by Craddock.

Clapham scuffed a right foot shot from 18 yards, then saw a cross hacked clear by Sito before the home side went ahead, Bothroyd smashing a low drive past Supple from 25 yards.

Bruce continued to make himself a nuisance to the Wolves midfield and a terrific challenge and then slick pass saw Forster head goalwards, the frontman forced out for a corner that was wasted by Richards.

Cort saw red on 35 minutes after tussling with Williams and then pushing the Welsh international in the face, leaving referee Trevor Kettle with no option but to send him off.

With the extra man, Blues began to get a grip on the game, Williams testing Murray from distance, then Forster seeing an effort blocked by Gary Breen.

The ever dangerous Bothroyd could and should have put Mick McCarthy's side two up though on 44 minutes, bursting clear but his tame effort went straight at Supple.

Town had an even better chance with the half-time whistle beckoning, Richards failing to convert from the spot for the first time in four penalties after Forster had gone down.

Blues had another half shout for a spot-kick seconds later when Dean Bowditch's flick fell into Forster's path, the ball appearing to brush a Wolves hand before being cleared.

Wolves made two early substitutions after the break, Rob Edwards and Seyi Olofinjana replacing Mark Clyde and Lee Naylor with Town introducing Alan Lee for Bowditch on 51 minutes, seconds after the England U19 international appeared to have equalised for Blues only to be given offside after Williams had hit the post.

At the other end Ricketts tested Supple from 18 yards before both sides made further changes, Craig Davies replacing Bothroyd, Darren Currie on for Richards.

Currie picked up a yellow card six minutes after coming on, bringing down Karl Henry.

Blues were making the extra man count, dominating possession but couldn't find a way past Murray, the England U21 international 'keeper watching Forster blaze wide.

Kevin O'Connor repeated the feat at the other end, Supple not troubled by his shot, Currie sending a free-kick straight at Murray at the other end.

Sam Parkin replaced Peters five minutes from time as Town went three up front in a bid to prise something from the game.

Williams made it three yellow cards for Town with an injury time foul on Ricketts as Wolves broke following a flurry of Blues' corners.

Town camped in the home box for the final moments of the game, Murray and Lee squaring up as the 'keeper punched a Currie corner away from danger but Wolves held on to leave Blues pointless two games into the season.

Town line-up: Supple, Sito, De Vos, Naylor, Harding, Peters (Parkin 85), Williams, Bruce, Richards (Currie 61), Forster, Bowditch (Lee 52). Subs not used: Price, Wilnis. Booked: Bruce, Currie, Williams.