Wolverhampton Wanderers lost their one hundred per cent unbeaten run in this summer’s pre-season friendlies after a lacklustre performance, going down 2-1 at Port Vale.

Manager Mick McCarthy chose to field the other half of his first team squad peppered with a few reserve and academy players following the previous night’s 1-0 win at Walsall but they never really got out of first gear.

Wolves had been expected to field Carl Ikeme in goal but he was a notable absentee due to a niggling back injury while £2.6?million midfielder Nenad Milijas also failed to make the fixture after having returned to his native Serbia to complete paperwork on his work permit.

Wolves youngsters Sam Vokes and Ashley Hemmings started up front while new signing Ronald Zubar joined Chris Berra in defence.

Micky Adams’ Valiants certainly lived up to their name despite the fact three league now separate these two sides. They might have broken the deadlock far earlier than Doug Loft’s 45th minute opener had Marc Richard’s 34th minute strike not been ruled offside.

Matt Jarvis did pull Wolves back level in the 53rd minute after dispossessing Vale defender John McCombe but a raft of changes late in the game including the introduction of former Birmingham and Albion striker Geoff Horsfield – assistant manger at Vale Park – meant in the end the home side were victorious with Robert Taylor hitting an 83rd-minute winner.