Jody Craddock (AFP)

Related Links

• West Brom earn promotion

Wolverhampton - Wolves edged closer to Premier League survival after grinding out a dour 0-0 draw against Stoke at Molineux on Sunday.

Mick McCarthy's team are now six points clear of the relegation zone with four matches left to play and look set to beat the drop in their first season up from the Championship.

Wolves were without captain Karl Henry as the midfielder started a three-game ban for his sending-off at Arsenal last weekend, so Jody Craddock took the skipper's armband on his 500th career league appearance.

As usual Stoke were keen to launch long throws from Rory Delap into the Wolves penalty area whenever possible and Abdoulaye Faye had a free header from one but sent his effort wide of the post.

Stoke who enjoyed most of the early pressure and a header from Robert Huth flew straight at Wolves goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann before Dean Whitehead headed wide from Matthew Etherington's cross.

Senegal defender Faye wasted another good chance to put Stoke in front in the 23rd minute. Glenn Whelan hooked a cross into the area and Faye climbed above the home defence, only to send his header wide from close range.

Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen was called into action for the first time to keep out a David Edwards header.

But it wasn't long before Delap's latest bullet throw found Faye again, but once more he was unable to hit the target from a good position.

There was no change to the pattern of the game in the second half and Delap remained the chief creator as his throw was flicked by Huth straight at Hahnemann.

Mamady Sidibe wasted a good chance to put Stoke ahead after 54 minutes when he slashed Danny Higginbotham's shot wildly over the bar.

In a rare moment of danger for Stoke, Sorensen had to save a powerful Zubar header from Craddock's cross.

But it was Stoke who finished stronger as Whelan flashed a fierce drive just over, then curled wide from long-range.