Wolves marched into the fourth round of the FA Cup, but were flattered by the score-line against plucky Darlington. The Division Three side had the better of the opening 15 minutes, but they were then caught cold as Dougie Freedman struck from just inside the penalty area.

Darlington fought back bravely, but again luck was not on their side when Michael Oliver drilled a shot from 12 yards against Mike Stowell's left-hand upright.

Darlington defence were guilty of a horrendous mistake to gift Wolves their second. Goalkeeper David Preece missed a headed back-pass and Mixu Paatelainen walked the ball into the empty net after 66 minutes.

As Darlington poured forward looking for a late consolation goal they were caught twice in stoppage time, first by Darren Ferguson, and moments later by a Paatelainen header.

Darlington: Preece, Shaw, Barnard (Resch 74), De Vos, Crosby (Brumwell 85), Atkinson, Oliver, Gaughan, Roberts, Dorner, Naylor (Robinson 74). Subs Not Used: Stephenson, Turnbull.

Wolverhampton: Stowell, Muscat, Froggatt, Atkins, Richards, Curle, Goodman (Paatelainen 27), Ferguson, Robinson (Daley 72), Freedman, Sedgley. Subs Not Used: Keane, Segers, Naylor. Goals: Freedman 18, Paatelainen 66, 90, Ferguson 90.

Referee: G Cain (Bootle).