WOLVERHAMPTON  0   BIRMINGHAM  1

   Adebola - 32                   

At Molineux

17th December 2000

Att: 19,938

The in-form Blues striker scored with a low shot in the 32nd minute to claim his eighth goal of the season and his fourth in the last six games.

It was enough to lift Trevor Francis' side above Watford and West Brom and to within two points of second placed Bolton, with a game in hand.

The defeat leaves Wolves looking anxiously downwards to the relegation zone, particularly as many of their rivals at the foot of the table picked up points over the weekend.

Colin Lee's side are 16th in Division One, but such is the tight nature of the relegation scrap, they have only a one point cushion seperating them from the bottom three.

The men in old gold rarely threatened their visitors, with Robert Taylor, their £1.5m signing from Manchester City, virtually anonymous on his return from a persistent calf injury.

Their only attacking promise came in the opening half an hour from midfielder Tony Dinning, who was foiled three times by visiting goalkeeper Ian Bennett.

On the third occasion, Dinning collided with Bennett as the Blues stopper smothered his shot, and he was forced to leave the action after taking a hefty blow to the stomach.

The match hinged on Bennett's save and Dinning's departure. Wolves wasted the resultant corner and Birmingham were able to launch a swift attack.

Mark Burchill, in from the start in place of the injured Geoff Horsfield, released Adebola on the right edge of the penalty area, and he placed a left-foot shot beyond the reach of Michael Oakes.