The points were there for the taking after a James Beattie-inspired own goal and Matthew Etherington's first for the club fired City into a seemingly-safe two-goal lead by the break.

But Craddock, a loanee two years ago, netted from close-range immediately after the restart and then headed a second shortly after the hour.

Wolves remained the more accomplished-looking outfit at 2-2, but the best chance to win the game fell to Abdoulaye Faye, who mucked-up a glorious opportunity from a free header.

Thomas Sorensen returned in goal for Steve Simonsen at the start of play, but less predictable was Glenn Whelan's inclusion after Salif Diao cried off with a late fitness concern.

Wolves surprisingly pitched in former Stokie Chris Iwelumo for his full Premier League debut in place of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake following the big Scot's recent return from a long injury lay off.

Today's game kicked off in a typically boisterous atmosphere – generated largely by a vociferous home support.

But it was Michael Kightly who caused an early stir on the pitch as he picked up a slight cut following an aerial collision with Andy Wilkinson then fired at Sorensen from distance shortly after.

City's retort was instant as Danny Collins was left free at a corner to guide his header goalwards and watch Hennessey fumble under pressure from Abdoulaye Faye before Wolves smuggled clear.

Both Christophe Berra and Craddock were lucky to escape bookings for upending Ricardo Fuller during a bright beginning for the Jamaican birthday boy.

Craddock's infringement led to a free-kick from which David Edwards was also lucky to dodge punishment after lifting his arm above his head to block James Beattie's attempt on goal as he stood in a wall just outside the Wolves area.

Berra then stretched on the run and only just failed to connect with a raking ball into the Stoke box as both sides continued to jockey for advantage in the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

And it was City who poked their noses in front in the 17th minute when Matthew Etherington scarpered down the left at great pace and clipped over a low ball on the run that eluded the stricken keeper.

Left back George Elokobi stood between Beattie and the exposed Wolves goal, but that didn't stop the Stoke striker wrapping his foot round the uncertain defender and appearing to sweep home at the far post with a typical goalscorer's instinct.

TV replays suggested Elokobi might have actually applied the killer touch, but there was no stopping Beattie claiming the plaudits.

The striker's joy was short-lived, however, as he lay clutching his leg a couple of minutes later after landing awkwardly from a high challenge inside the Wolves area.

Beattie was back on the field by the time he lashed over from an unfavourable angle after Etherington had tickled a neat through ball for Fuller to try, and narrowly fail, to tee-up a shooting chance as the ball got stuck under his feet before breaking to his fellow target man.

The initiative remained with Stoke as Ryan Shawcross, exchanging passes down the left-hand side, delivered a floated ball for the omnipresent Beattie to rise highest and produce a header that Wayne Hennessey did brilliantly to save one-handed.

The visitors were gradually gaining more ball and territory, but Stoke's narrow lead wasn't under any obvious duress and an offside flag curtailed one of their more impressive moves.

Indeed, Stoke remained the more acquainted with the opposition penalty area and doubled their lead when Etherington crowned a fine individual first half with that maiden goal in City's colours.

Rory Delap's throw was headed half-clear by Berra as he and two colleagues smothered Beattie's aerial threat.

But the ball only dropped for Etherington who, with deadly composure, chested the stray clearance before volleying left-footed past a flying Hennessey and inside his right-hand post.

And Stoke's two-goal lead was a fair reflection of their dominance on first-half chances.

Half-time: Stoke 2, Wolves 0.

Any thoughts of a comfortable home run in the second half were rudely interrupted when Wolves halved their deficit a minute after the restart as Nenad Milijas, a half-time sub, swung over a free-kick from the right that was glanced to the far post for Craddock to crash home from close-range.

And Milijas aimed for the far top corner himself shortly afterwards when letting fly with a free-kick from similar territory to test Sorensen's handling and balance on his goal-line.

The game was suddenly alive as a contest once again and the Wolves fans had rediscovered their lost voice behind Sorensen's goal.

There was no let-up in the tempo approaching the hour mark, nor the competitiveness, and Shawcross popped up wide for a second time in the afternoon to cross to the near post for Beattie to only narrowly miss out.

The contest became more intriguing in the 64th minute when Milijas swung over a short left-wing corner from the Wolves right for Craddock to beat Whelan to the punch by back-heading beyond a wrong-footed Sorensen and towards the far corner of his net.

The visitors were enjoying too much possession for Stoke's liking and so it was no great surprise when the tiring Beattie was replaced by Mama Sidibe for his first Premier League appearance of the season on 71 minutes.

Tuncay was also chucked on a few minutes later for Fuller as Stoke suddenly fielded a wholly new strike force for the final 15.

But Stoke's control of the ball, never mind the game, remained worryingly fragile against opposition flourishing on the back of the midfield composure being exhibited by Stoke old boy Karl Henry.

Liam Lawrence was soon mixing it with the officials after replacing Delap to try to inject fresh inspiration and firepower into Stoke's waning cause.

And it might have been so different for Stoke had Abdoulaye Faye not ballooned a totally free header a mile over and into the Boothen End after losing his marker at Etherington's right-wing corner.

The left foot of Milijas had already wrought sufficient havoc earlier in the second half – and Stoke were relieved to see him bend one comfortably wide of the far stick after backing off him inside their own box.

Stoke then sent the big men up for a left-wing corner, but to no avail as the visitors prevailed comfortably.
Four extra minutes were added by the referee but the points remained fairly shared.

TEAMS
Stoke: 29 Sorensen, 2 Wilkinson, 22 Collins, 17 Shawcross, 25 Ab Faye, 24 Delap, 6 Whelan, 18 Whitehead, 26 Etherington, 9 Beattie, 10 Fuller. Subs: 11 Sidibe (for Beattie,71), 20 Tuncay (for Fuller,76), 7 Lawrence (for Delap,80). Not used: 1 Simonsen, 3 Higginbotham, 5 Cort, 14 Pugh.

Wolves: 1 Hennessey, 23 Zubar, 3 Elokobi, 6 Craddock, 16 Berra, 4 Edwards, 8 Henry, 35 Castillo, 7 Kightly, 19 Iwelumo, 29 Doyle. Subs: 20 Milijas (for Castillo,46), 5 Stearman (for Elokobi,59), 33 Maierhoffer (for Iwelumo,73). Not used: 13 Hahnemann, 9 Ebanks-Blake, 15 Halford, 17 Jarvis.

Scorers: Elokobi (og 17), Etherington (44) Craddock (46,64)

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).

Att: 27,500.

Cards: Stoke – none. Wolves – Kightly (foul,34), Edwards (handball,40), Elokobi (foul,54).