Tranmere Rovers 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1

WOLVES midfielder Matt Jarvis atoned for missing an open goal by scoring the winner in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over League One Tranmere at Prenton Park.

The FA Cup third round tie looked to be heading for a replay after Jarvis had side-footed wide from seven yards in the first half and Rovers’ Terry Gornell fired into the side-netting having gone round goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey after the interval.

However, 13 minutes from time Nenad Milijas threaded a brilliant ball between Tranmere’s two central defenders and Jarvis ran on to hit a firsttime shot past Luke Daniels.

The win against a side 51 places below them in the league ensured Wolves avoided an upset and reached the fourth round – where they will face Championship side Crystal Palace – for the eighth successive season.

Sub-zero temperatures at kick-off meant the Prenton Park pitch was only going to become more treacherous as the night went on.

Wolves should have taken the lead in the 35th minute when Chris Iwelumo flicked a header across the Tranmere penalty area and, with the defence static, Jarvis raced in but side-footed well wide of an open goal from seven yards.

Nine minutes into the second half Wolves were denied only by the brilliance of goalkeeper Daniels.

When Stephen Ward curled in a left-footed cross Ebanks- Blake rose highest and his header seemed destined for the top corner only for Daniels, on-loan from West Brom, to claw out the ball with his left hand and Goodison hooked clear.

Gornell had a golden opportunity to put the Wirral side ahead in the 66th minute when he out-muscled Ward in the left-back spot.

The ball bounced towards goal but after sliding in and beating Hennessey with a solid challenge the striker picked himself to go past the goalkeeper only to shoot into the side-netting.

The game’s one piece of real attacking quality in the 77th minute produced the winner.

Milijas threaded a brilliant ball between Tranmere’s two central defenders and Jarvis ran on to hit a first-time shot past Daniels.