MOLINEUX started the afternoon as host to Survival Sunday’s largest gathering of nervous wrecks, yet ended it the scene of a giant party.

It was an afternoon of enthralling drama that few present are likely to forget in a hurry.

In the end everyone was a winner, with both sides retaining their place in the Premier League, but it was the Rovers fans who had the biggest reason to celebrate.

The Wolves supporters invaded the pitch at the final whistle, in relief as much as anything as defeat ultimately did not prove costly on an afternoon that ebbed and flowed with four of the five teams in danger in the relegation zone at some point or another.

Rovers were the exception and it was they who were generously applauded from all four corners of the ground as they re-emerged from the dressing room to celebrate with their fans.

They had stayed up in style, and Steve Kean was notably given the thumbs up from Balaji Rao in the directors’ box.

Rovers’ 2,700 supporters, whose tickets for the match were subsidised by the club, received a letter of thanks and a £10 voucher from owners Venky’s upon their arrival, while Wolves fans waved the free flags handed out by the hosts.

Both sets of supporters were in full voice as Manchester United took the lead against Blackpool, and Rovers’ joy increased as Jason Roberts put Steve Kean’s side in front.

The visiting support erupted in ecstasy and the mood immediately changed among the home support. Frustrated, every Wolves mistake was met by anger.

This might have been an equally excruciating afternoon for Rovers but instead the away section was sent delirious once more as Brett Emerton’s superb volley made it 2-0.

‘We are staying up,’ was the chant as Rovers fans started to feel ever more certain about survival.

Supporters perhaps could not quite believe what they were seeing as Junior Hoilett made it 3-0 before half time.

It was party time already for them, but a Blackpool goal plunged Wolves into the bottom three alongside Wigan.

The half-time whistle was met with pure rage from the home crowd, who knew they needed two goals if results did not change elsewhere.

Results did change, though, and a roar went around Molineux as Birmingham slipped behind at Tottenham to drop to 19th.

Now Wolves were one goal outside the relegation zone and needed Wayne Hennessey to save from Roberts. No such worries for Rovers, playing with pressure firmly off.

Elsewhere, Blackpool gained and lost the lead at United before Wolves pulled a goal back through Jamie O’Hara.

Hope sprang eternal among the hosts, while Rovers supporters were able to watch on with interest rather than worry.

The roars grew greater as Blackpool fell behind, but suddenly a Wigan goal at Stoke and a Birmingham equaliser at Tottenham moved Wolves back into the bottom three.

‘We only need one goal,’ the Wolves fans sang, attempting to clarify an ever more complex situation for the players out on the field.

The goal arrived through Stephen Hunt with four minutes left, moving Wolves out of the drop zone on goals scored.

A late Tottenham goal at Birmingham sealed Wolves’ survival, as both sets of fans began to sing ‘We are staying up’ in unison.

The scenes of joy at the whistle were fitting of an extraordinary afternoon, one that Rovers fans will look back on fondly for some years to come.