Wolves 1 Doncaster Rovers 0

Last updated : 07 May 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Stearman struck for the first time since his arrival from Leicester City last summer when he rose at the far post to head home a cross from Stephen Ward.

It was just the way that manager Mick McCarthy had wanted to end the campaign as he had demanded a win.

But it was rough on Doncaster who had been bidding to finish their season with a third successive win.

They could have won as well but James Hayter wasted two golden chances as Rovers boss Sean Driscoll was denied victory against the side he has supported since he was a boy.

Having won promotion two weeks ago, Wolves struggled to raise their game before Stearman's late strike set up the team to collect the Championship trophy in front of a capacity crowd who were in party mood.

With nothing for either side to play apart from personal pride, there was a distinct lack of menace at start of the game from both sets of players.

In a pedestrian first period, chances were few and far between, but Hayter will know he should have done better with the chance that came his way in the 21st minute.

Four-goal Hayter found himself unmarked just eight yards from goal, but as he let fly with a powerful low shot, Wolves skipper Jody Craddock arrived in the nick of time to block his goalbound drive.

Wolves did initially look the more likely side to make the breakthrough and it needed a combination of goalkeeper Neil Sullivan and the post to deny them in the 31st minute.

In a movement of rare class, Wolves' 25-goal striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake fed a ball into the path of Kevin Foley, who had been pushed into midfield for the match from his more accustomed role at right-back.

Foley met Ebanks-Blake's pass with some power but Sullivan stretched out his left-hand to tip the ball on to the post.

Doncaster could have taken control of affairs in the second-half but Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was not to be outdone by Sullivan when he produced a smart fingertip stop of his own as Hayter was denied for a second time.

Hayter again enjoyed the luxury of being unmarked when he met a free-kick from Martin Woods in the 56th minute, but his header was superbly stopped on the goal-line by Hennessey.

Doncaster certainly appeared more intent on ending their campaign with a win and Wolves had another let-off after 71 minutes when Woods whistled a long-range drive just past the post.

They took full advantage of that escape through Stearman as they start to plan for life in the Premier League.