Wolves survived an early scare and a plastic pitch to set up a tie that will take them on a 6,370 mile round-trip next week.

Crusaders took the lead on the night in front of a boisterous Belfast crowd but Wolves responded strongly and next up for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are Armenia’s Pyunik, on the border of Iran.

It is certainly an inconvenient way to prepare for the start of the Premier League but this is what Wolves signed up for in their ambitions to become a European force.

In a way these competitive games are actually a good way to get in gear, with Nuno picking his strongest team and expected to do so once more in six days’ time. Wolves appear fit and ready.

Last night’s match was preceded by an unusual terrace chant to the tune of Erasure’s hit song A Little Respect. The 2,000 or so Crusaders fans stood up and belted out their tailored lyrics and when the action began their team’s play demanded respect too. Wolves were put in uncomfortable positions more than once.

Inside two minutes Conor Coady was required to clear off his own line when a header by Jordan Owens looped over Rui Patricio. Right-back Jordan Forsythe had provided the cross and in the 13th minute he was at it again.

Forsythe swept the ball into the centre and Ryan Bennet, under pressure from Paul Heatley, nodded into his own net.

Seaview erupted in disbelief as much as anything, Crusaders suddenly one goal from parity with a club of astronomically bigger resources.

But the joy was short-lived. Within two minutes Wolves had passed their way through the Belfast team to Raul Jimenez, who swivelled and shot low from the edge of the area to equalise.

Seven minutes before the break Bennett atoned for his earlier misfortune by connecting sweetly to Joao Moutinho’s corner to put Wolves ahead on the night.

And Jimenez got a second with a fantastic first-time shot from 20 yards after the ball had run loose from Diogo Jota’s dangerous run. The Mexican striker is a phenom of fitness, having just two weeks off after playing for his country at the Gold Cup and already looking lethal. He got 25 in 57 last season.

Jimenez was forced off in the second half when he suffered a knock but it did not seem serious. Jota got into a spat with Billy Burns over some heavy tackles and Nuno did the smart thing by subbing him off.

Crusaders stuck to their task but in the closing stages Forsythe nodded into his own net to increase the margin of defeat.