One game short of the season’s midway point, Wolverhampton Wanderers are halfway to a century of points and on course for a hundred goals as well. Even with Chris Iwelumo, their leading goalscorer, left out, the Coca-Cola Championship leaders cruised to a comfortable victory as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scored twice to leave freezing home supporters singing: “We might as well go home.”

Derby County’s wretched run on the road continues and it is perhaps as well that they entertain Manchester United at Pride Park in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final next month, otherwise the return might have been rendered redundant. Paul Jewell’s team won 1-0 away to Stoke City in the cup last week but they have failed to score in their past four away games in the Championship, even if they did press hard last night.

Mick McCarthy is conscious that the depth of his squad will be significant if Wolves are to maintain their advantage over Birmingham City and Reading. He left out Iwelumo, who has scored 15 times this season, and David Jones and still had far too much for Derby. At this rate, the Championship’s top three could pull away from the rest. There is going to be one very disappointed set of decent players left to compete in the play-offs next May and the Wolves manager is determined it will not be his. Asked if they felt under pressure as his two closest challengers keep winning, McCarthy replied: “They’re under more to keep up with us — you’re running for your life or you’re running for your dinner.”

Jewell said that Derby had been “rubbish” in the three previous away defeats but defended their efforts last night, especially after they had conceded a dubious penalty in the first 50 seconds. Darren Powell was adjudged to have handled, inviting Ebanks-Blake to send Stephen Bywater the wrong way with his spot-kick.

“It was a terrible decision,” the Derby manager said. “Even their players are saying it’s not a penalty. But I thought we responded well and we were the better side for half an hour. We pressed them and they played counter-attacking football. They’ve had one corner all night — and won 3-0.”

Bywater was back in the Derby side as Roy Carroll, Derby’s first-choice goalkeeper, started a fortnight’s suspension on full pay after falling out with the manager in a dressing-room row in the wake of Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace. “The Roy Carroll episode didn’t affect what happened tonight,” Jewell said. “Roy will come back in two weeks’ time and, providing he shows the right attitude, he’ll be back in contention. Things get heated in dressing-rooms at times, but it’s been dealt with the way I see fit and that’s the end of the matter.”

Derby managed to subdue Michael Kightly for the opening half-hour but gradually Wolves wore them down and, finally making inroads down the right wing, Kightly got past Jordan Stewart and picked out Ebanks-Blake, who shot against a post. A minute later, the second goal arrived. Kightly cut back inside on to his left foot and, as Paul Connolly and Keogh battled for the header, the ball fell for David Edwards to half-volley in.

Twice Keogh ran through into the penalty area but failed to get the goal that would have rewarded his workrate. On the second occasion, after Bywater saved with his feet, the Ireland striker collected the rebound and squared the ball for Ebanks-Blake to toe-poke home. The South Bank sang Keogh’s name, appreciative of the work ethic that the former Scunthorpe United striker abides by. Not that McCarthy would have any other type in his squad.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-2): W Hennessey — K Foley, R Stearman, M Mancienne, M Hill — M Kightly (sub: N Collins, 72min), D Edwards, K Henry, S Ward (sub: M Jarvis, 87) — S Ebanks-Blake (sub: S Vokes, 74), A Keogh. Substitutes not used: S Higgs, D Jones.

Derby County (4-4-2): S Bywater — P Connolly, D Powell (sub: J Tomkins, 53min), M Albrechtsen, J Stewart — L Varney, R Zadkovich, M Addison, P Kazmierczak (sub: K Collins, 77) — E Villa, R Hulse (sub: N Ellington, 74). Substitutes not used: L Price, G Teale.

Referee: G Hegley.