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Sako won and scored the penalty after one of several dangerous runs

Benik Afobe scored 27 seconds into the second half as Wolves enhanced their play-off hopes with a clinical victory that all but ended Nottingham Forest's prospects of going up.

Former Arsenal striker Afobe opened the scoring with a fine low shot after an uneventful first half.

Forest had chances to level through Michail Antonio and Gary Gardner.

But Bakary Sako's penalty made it 2-0 and they held on despite an injury-time strike from Dexter Blackstock.

Forest barely had time to kick off after substitute Blackstock's goal but even a draw would have been little use for their already slim play-off hopes with the gap now standing at 11 points.

Young Gunner Benik Afobe's second-half strike takes his tally to 28 for the season, and nine in 15 games for Wolves since joining from Arsenal in January. He scored 19 goals in 30 games on loan at MK Dons earlier in the season, in League One, FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy. Only Harry Kane (29) has scored more goals in all competitions (including Europa League) in England's top four tiers this season than Afobe.

The result briefly lifted Wolves into the top six before Ipswich and Derby both earned a point in the later kick-offs to move back above them.

But Kenny Jackett's side will take great confidence from an impressive display against a side who had won all of their previous five home league games under manager Dougie Freedman.

A tight and tense first half saw neither side able to get on top or create noteworthy chances.

But Wolves took control in the teeming rain just after the interval when Forest hesitated in the centre of the pitch and Afobe was allowed to head towards goal and shoot unchallenged from outside the box to score his 28th goal of the season.

Antonio did waste a glorious opportunity to level, shooting into the side netting from 12 yards after a rare Wolves mix-up, while Gardner mis-kicked when well placed.

However, Wolves were the more threatening and composed, and Sako's spot-kick made it 2-0 after his clever run drew a needless sliding tackle from Henri Lansbury.

Blackstock's tidy finish brought hope in the fourth minute of injury time but there was only just time to kick off.

Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman:

"The difference was that Wolves took their chances when they came along. There was not a lot in it, they just took their chances when they came their way.

"When they scored just after half time, our team talk went out the window. But you have to take your chances against the top sides and we had plenty of them.

"Afobe made the difference, because he took his goal superbly."

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett:

"We just need to keep winning our games and not worry about other sides. It looks like the top eight will be involved now in the play-off race, although I don't know if Forest will have an opinion on that.

"We have to follow this win up with another against Leeds on Monday, there will be a big crowd at Molineux and we have to focus on that now.

"The mood is very determined, there is good focus among the players and we are keen to keep improving."

Afobe's pace and power caused problems for Forest's defence throughout

Sako's spot-kick was his sixth goal in nine games