WOLVERHAMPTON 1 HULL 1

MICHAEL TURNER waved what could be his final goodbye to Hull fans at the final whistle - as he prepares to leave in a £12million move before this week's transfer deadline.

But Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was left wishing the Tigers skipper had packed his bags 24 hours earlier.

Turner made a sensational goalline stop from Kevin Doyle to deny the striker scoring a deserved winner in the 81st minute for the Molineux side.

And it was not just that match-saving intervention that made it a grand farewell for the Hull defender.

Turner's overall performance was immaculate and underlined why Sunderland, Everton and Fulham are eager to break the bank to sign him.

Wolves will vouch for his value after they dominated the second half with a display that suggested they can hold their own at this level.

But what proved to be an encouraging afternoon for the Midlands club in the late summer sunshine might not look so optimistic through the harsh months of mid-winter and the arrival of spring.

By then, they might be counting the cost of two points tossed away here. Wolves viewed this match as one to win - but they blew it.

Goal scoring will prove to be their undoing over the course of the season if they carry on as wastefully as this.

Record £6.5million signing Doyle and Andy Keogh created a lively partnership but the clinical edge is missing from their finishing.

Two goals from five games so far this season offer a painfully obvious reason why Wolves have not climbed to a loftier position.

With top-scorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Scotland international Chris Iwelumo and the highly-rated Michael Kightly still to return from injuries, it is a problem McCarthy will hope to solve without delving deeper into the transfer market.

A goal at the start of each half kept the contest evenly balanced for an hour. And then Wolves should have romped it.

Apart from Doyle's point-blank effort, which Turner somehow kept out with keeper Boaz Myhill beaten, two other good chances were squandered. Keogh sliced a shot wide when clean through and sub Sam Vokes missed a simple header in the final minute.

Hull were fortunate to escape from that late bombardment - but they had themselves to blame for not building on their early lead.

Wolves were caught cold after three minutes when Stephen Hunt destroyed Greg Halford with his trickery down the left - and the midfielder's cross was bundled home by Geovanni through a crowded six-yard box.

But Hull were just as guilty when the second half resumed.

Michael Mancienne's free kick was helped on by Jody Craddock and Richard Stearman steered home the equaliser.

Significantly, it was a Wolves defender who showed his forwards how to finish.

In between those goals, the home team edged it with their superior aggression and possession - but they could not match their high-tempo build-ups with a cutting edge.

McCarthy is honest enough to acknowledge that four points from four games looks a reasonable return in their first season back in the top flight - but it won't sustain them through the gruelling marathon course ahead.

Points are the best currency to have in the bank at this early stage of the season. Hull found that out last time because it gave them a lifeline when they were sinking into the relegation mire.

Then, they had influential Turner on board steering them towards safe ground.

The loss of him will be a crushing blow to any survival bid this time.

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