ALBION suffered late heartache at Molineux as Wolves super-sub Jay Bothroyd's goal seven minutes from time saw them slip below Wanderers in the table.

The Baggies' first back-to-back league defeats since November leaves them fifth - six points off second-placed Derby.

In a closely-fought Black Country derby, a draw would have probably been a fair result.

Albion didn't hit the heights of their two 3-0 wins over Wanderers earlier in the season but can count themselves mightily unlucky to make the short journey home empty-handed.

Not even the threat of 21-goal hotshot Diomansy Kamara could save Albion.

The Senegal pace ace endured a frustrating second half which saw him hit the post and the superb Matt Murray thwart him on three occasions.

Young Irish hitman Andy Keogh had the hosts' best chances but lacked the killer instinct to finish them off in either half.

Zoltan Gera was handed his first league start in four games as he kicked-off at right midfield, with Robert Koren dropping to the bench.

Wolves also made one change to their starting XI as Darren Potter returned from suspension to replace the injured Karl Henry (ribs) in the middle of the park.

The first threat on goal came from the Baggies in the eighth minute when Jason Koumas got to the left byline but fired his back-post cross just inches out of Gera's reach.

The hosts responded four minutes later when Seyi Olofinjana pounced on a loose ball and drilled in a low 20-yard drive which Dean Kiely managed to scramble across to and gather at the second attempt.

Michael Kightly threaded a dangerous ball through to Keogh in space in the Baggies' penalty area moments later.

But the in-form Irishman hesitated and allowed Neil Clement to dispossess him and break out of defence.

At the other end, Richard Chaplow fired in a low cross to the near post where the spritely Kevin Phillips pipped Jackie McNamara to the ball before spinning and forcing Murray into a fine reflex save.

Kightly put Albion on the back foot in the 33rd minute and managed to pick out Stephen Ward in the penalty area.

His flick-on fell to Keogh, who controlled the ball neatly on his chest but he could not muster enough power on his volley to beat Kiely.

Phillips had the ball in the back of the net seven minutes before the break after being teed up by Kamara, only for the former England striker's effort to be ruled out for offside.

Murray's long punt in the 42nd minute bounced through to the edge of the Baggies' penalty box and, with Kiely well off his line, Keogh pipped Davies to the ball on the stretch but could not lift it over the Albion keeper.

In the final minute of the half, Neil Collins' long free-kick was nodded down by Keogh in the penalty area and Ward spun and fired high and wide from 12 yards.

The Baggies had a golden opportunity to open the scoring five minutes into the second half when Davies showed good strength in the middle of the pitch to win the ball before powering forward.

The Albion skipper weighted his throughball perfectly to leave Kamara clean through, but the former Modena man was denied by Murray, who was quickly off his line to smother the shot.

Michael McIndoe pounced on a loose ball in the 59th minute and drilled in a 20-yard shot which Kiely did well to hold low down to his left.

Two minutes later, Gera found Koumas in a central position and he also let fly with a 20-yard effort, which Murray handled well.

The Baggies fell asleep from a throw-in moments later to allowed Kightly to get to the left byline where he was able to pick out Keogh in the centre.

Again, the young striker hesitated in front of goal to allow Clement to make a goal-saving clearance.

Mowbray made a change in the 63rd minute as Phillips made way for Sherjill MacDonald and, seconds later, Kamara looked to have played Koumas in on goal but the assistant referee flagged for off-side.

Collins' ball over the top five minutes later saw substitute Bothroyd in on goal and he unleashed a vicious left-foot shot which Kiely dived to low to his left to finger-tip around the post.

Collins himself went close when he headed Kightly's right-wing corner over from 15 yards.

Koumas sprayed the ball out to the left to leave Kamara one-on-one with Rob Edwards in the 71st minute.

The Albion top scorer twisted and turned the Wolves full-back before clattering the left-hand post from a tight angle.

Gera's diagonal ball left Kamara bearing down on goal again in the 76th minute but the Senegal hotshot looked to be clipped by Edwards and, instead of shooting, looked towards referee Andy D'Urso for a penalty.

The Essex official waved play on and the hosts cleared.

Three minutes later, Kamara had Wanderers on the back foot again as he turned Edwards and substitute Jody Craddock inside out before forcing Murray into a fine save at his near post.

Albion were left ruing those missed chances when Molineux erupted in the 83rd minute.

From a quick free-kick, Ward slipped the ball to Bothroyd inside the penalty area and the former Charlton man picked out the bottom right-hand corner of the net with a crisp left-foot finish.

The Baggies had a chance to grab a point in the 89th minute when Gera headed Koumas' free-kick back towards goal, only for Davies to head over from 12 yards.

And there was more agony deep into stoppage-time.

Kamara worked himself some space in the box and fired in a left-foot shot, only to see Murray stick out an elbow to somehow deflect the ball for a corner.

WOLVES (4-4-2): Murray; Edwards, Breen (Craddock 68), Collins, McNamara; Kightly (M Davies 90), Olofinjana, Potter, McIndoe (Bothroyd 67); Ward, Keogh. Subs not used: Budtz (gk), Clapham.

ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; McShane (Albrechtsen 85), C Davies, Clement, Robinson; Gera, Chaplow (Carter 67), Greening, Koumas; Phillips (MacDonald 63), Kamara. Subs not used: Daniels (gk), Koren.

GOALS: WOLVES - Bothroyd (83).

BOOKINGS: ALBION - Kamara (unsporting behaviour 75).

REFEREE: A D'Urso (Essex).

ATTENDANCE: 28,016.

ALBION STARMAN: Neil Clement.

(PICS BY LAURIE RAMPLING)