Blues' interest in this season's FA Cup ended at the first hurdle in this evening's rearranged third round tie at St. Andrew's as goals either side of half-time from Championship rivals Wolves put the Black Country visitors through.

The hosts were low on numbers due to the ineligibility of four of their transfer window signings, along with injuries to key players Seb Larsson, Kevin Phillips and Garry O'Connor, a virus which ruled out James McFadden and a one-match ban for David Murphy.

Alex McLeish has often bemoaned the fact that he can't select seven substitutes in the Championship, as is possible in the Premier League and the FA Cup, so it was ironic that the Blues boss found himself unable to fill his bench.

Academy recruits Mitch McPike and Ashley Sammons were drafted in but even they could only make the tally up to six subs.

Goals from Andy Keogh and Sam Vokes did the damage and, try as they might, Blues couldn't find a way through a resolute Wolves defence.

New signing Robin Shroot was handed his debut as one of four changes made by McLeish from the Blues team that drew with Swansea way back on December 28.

Nigel Quashie, Cameron Jerome and Kemy Agustien were also recalled to the side with David Murphy, James McFadden, Damien Johnson and Kevin Phillips making way.

Shroot was signed from non-league football earlier this month and the 20-year-old showed no signs of nerves with a confident run and cross in only the third minute of the game.

The former Harrow Borough winger went on produce a promising first appearance in a royal blue shirt.

The youngster had a fierce volley deflected for a corner as Blues laid siege on the visitors' goal early on.

Mick McCarthy's side came more into the game and should have opened the scoring through George Friend.

Friend cut inside Stuart Parnaby and was through one-on-one with Maik Taylor but the Blues defender managed to get back and deflect the Wolves midfielder's shot wide for a corner.

Soon afterwards Dave Edwards wasn't far away with an impressive shot from distance.

Midway through the half Blues won a free-kick in a dangerous area but Franck Queudrue opted for power ahead of accuracy and his swerving effort flew well wide of the target.

At the other Dave Jones' free-kick was equally as wayward with a free-kick from a similar distance.

As the half went on smoke from a local fire enveloped the pitch and left a haze over the ground but both teams continued at full pelt regardless.

It was the visitors that took the lead on 37 minutes and it was inspired by the visitors' own ex-non-league gem.

Former Grays winger Kightly played a delightful ball over the top of the Blues defence with the outside of his foot and Keogh raced onto it and volleyed clinically past Taylor.

Blues almost made an immediate response as captain Lee Carsley fired a left-footed shot just past Wayne Hennessey's left-hand post.

The hosts were denied what seemed a stonewall penalty late in the half when Richard Stearman slid in on Marcus Bent and left the Blues striker in a crumpled heap on the floor.

But instead of blowing up, the referee waved play on and Wolves almost took full advantage by grabbing a second goal whilst Bent lay prostrate inside the visitors' penalty area.

Friend played the ball into the area and Vokes looked to have converted the loose ball but Queudrue raced back to clear the ball off the line.

But that wasn't Blues' only escape as the ball came back out to Kightly and his follow-up shot was heading goalwards only for Liam Ridgewell to produce another goal line clearance.

Half-time: Blues 0 Wolves 1

Bent did not reappear for the second half, due to an ankle injury picked up in the penalty appeal but, with no strikers on the bench, Damien Johnson was introduced to the action.

An early chance fell to Keogh whose shot was turned around the post by Taylor.

But the Blues striker was instrumental in the move that led to Wolves doubling the lead - although the referee could also claim an assist!

The match official got in the way of Radhi Jaidi's attempted ball and the ball broke to Keogh who raced away and teed up Kightly and the winger's low cross was tapped in at close range by Vokes.

The goal sparked Blues back into life and Carsley arrowed a vicious long range shot that was turned aside by Hennessey.

Then Jerome twisted and turned inside the area before firing an effort straight at the Wolves keeper.

To their credit Blues refused to lie down and began to knock the ball nicely around the park.

A sweeping move involving Johnson and Shroot set up Jerome who turned sharply before firing a shot that crashed against the woodwork.

Carsley headed wide from a corner as Blues continued to press and another chance came and went when Agustien's diagonal ball into the box was headed on by Jaidi and Jerome volleyed over.

And an even better opportunity arrived at the feet of Shroot from Quashie's clever defence-splitting pass but the debutant was denied a goal that his play had deserved as his shot was saved by the legs of Hennessey.

Blues were out of luck again as Liam Ridgewell's goalbound header was blocked by his own man Jerome close to the line.

It just wasn't going to be Blues' night but with four new signings primed to make their debut against Cardiff at St. Andrew's this Saturday, McLeish's charges have much more important matters to concern themselves with, notably the push for a place in the Premier League.

Full time: Blues 0 Wolves 2

Blues: Maik Taylor, Stuart Parnaby, Franck Queudrue, Radhi Jaidi, Liam Ridgewell, Kemy Augustien (Stephen Kelly 83), Nigel Quashie, Lee Carsley, Robin Shroot, Marcus Bent (Damien Johnson 46), Cameron Jerome.
Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Martin Taylor, Ashley Sammons, Mitch McPike.
Bookings: Quashie, jaidi.

Wolves: Wayne Hennessey, Neill Collins, Dave Edwards, Richard Stearman, Michael Kightly, Karl Henry, Andy Keogh, Stephen Ward, David Jones, Sam Vokes (Chris Iwelumo 78), George Friend.
Subs not used: Carl Ikeme, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Matt Jarvis, Jason Shackell, Darren Porter, Matthew Hill.
Goals: Keogh (38), Vokes (51)
Bookings: Stearman

Referee: H Webb (Yorks)

Attendance: 22,232