Wolves too good for Boro

Wolves powered into the Sky Bet Championship play-off spots with a comfortable 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.Bakary Sako's cheeky penalty and Nouha Dicko's second-half strike were enough to end Boro's seven-game unbeaten run.Victory moved Kenny Jackett's side up to fourth in the Championship while the visitors stayed third.Jelle Vossen hit the bar for Boro and Patrick Bamford was twice denied by smart Carl Ikeme saves but they lacked a clinical edge.James Henry replaced Rajiv van La Parra in the only change from Wolves' 3-3 draw at Millwall on Saturday.Jackett kept faith with the defence which shipped three second-half goals after Wolves had gone 3-0 ahead.Middlesbrough made four changes from their 2-1 win at Brighton as Vossen, Bamford, Kenneth Omeruo and Dean Whitehead came in.Ben Gibson, Lee Tomlin, Kike and Adam Clayton dropped out, with the latter sidelined after being knocked out at the weekend.Wolves had only won once in their last seven outings but took the game to their in-form visitors.Sako shot wide and Bamford - a summer transfer target for Wolves - charged down Ikeme's clearance only to see the ball drop well wide in an otherwise quiet opening.There was little flow with neither side able to take advantage, although Dimitrios Konstantopoulos tipped Sako's angled free kick over.Wolves were the aggressors, though, and always looked more likely to open the scoring - which they did on 33 minutes.Sako and Dicko combined well for the latter to burst into the area and he was clumsily brought down by former Molineux defender George Friend.Sako chipped the ball down the middle for his seventh goal of the season.But Boro almost levelled in comical circumstances four minutes later when Tommy Rowe's clearance was charged down, Bamford helped the ball to Vossen and his looping volley hit the bar.Ikeme made a fine save from Bamford from the rebound as Boro began to wake from their slumber.And Ikeme denied Bamford twice with smart saves on 40 minutes after Wolves failed to clear their lines.The duo then continued their personal duel as the keeper clutched the striker's header just before the break.But it was Edwards who should have put Wolves 2-0 up after the restart when he missed a golden chance.Henry's cross found the unmarked midfielder and his downward header from six yards bounced off the turf and onto the bar.Middlesbrough failed to find the rhythm which made them a danger in the first half and Kevin McDonald's brilliant 30-yard effort dipped just over for Wolves.And the hosts clinched the points on 73 minutes when Dicko scampered into the area, bulldozed his way past two challenges and fired high into the net from eight yards.Middlesbrough's response was muted and Michael Jacobs nearly added a third when his shot arrowed over.