PAUL Gallagher staked a claim for a first team recall with two goals in this comfortable victory over Wolves at Christie Park.

The Scotland international has failed to force his way into Mark Hughes's plans since the Welshman took over from Graeme Souness in September.

But the 20-year-old provided his new boss with a timely reminder of his qualities last night as he broke the deadlock with a moment of individual brilliance and then he effectively wrapped up the points with a coolly taken penalty.

Aside from Gallagher's goal-scoring exploits, there were several other positives for Eddie Niedzwiecki to report back to Hughes.

David Thompson stepped up his comeback plans with an industrious performance in the centre of midfield.

And Jonathan Douglas did his own cause no harm with a solid display at right-back, which may leave Lucas Neill sweating on his place for Saturday's Premiership trip to Norwich.

Thompson - who looked fitter than he has done for some time - was at the centre of the action from the start, threading a clever pass through for Jemal Johnson only to see the striker shoot wide.

Then a Thompson cross found Gallagher 18 yards out but the teenager's thunderous volley was brilliantly tipped aside by the agile Matt Murray.

It was far from one-way traffic, though, as Steven Drench had to save smartly from Leon Clarke, then Gareth Musson went close with a deft lob as Wolves made chances at the opposite end.

The game exploded into life four minutes after the break when Gallagher seized onto a throughball and flashed a stunning 25-yarder past Murray.

The young Scot then grabbed his second in the 55th minute, calmly wrong-footing Murray from the penalty spot after Johnson had been pole-axed by Joachim Bjorklund in the area.

It was left to Johnson to have the final say, scoring at the second attempt with 12 minutes remaining following a mistake by Murray.

Rovers: Drench, Douglas, Taylor, Harkins, Fitzgerald, Bruce, Donnelly, Thompson, Gallagher, Johnson, Pedersen. Subs: Morgan (for Pedersen, 67), Hodge (for Thompson, 71), Nolan (for Harkins, 83) Not used: Derbyshire, Yelldell

Wolves: Murray, Little, Rafferty, France, Bjorkland, Townsend, Stewart, Davies, Clarke, Gleeson, Musson. Subs: Riley (for Gleeson, 67), Fitzpatrick (for Stewart, 75) Not used: Hennessey, Taylor, Askey