Back to 2012 we go:
JUST four months after two Wolves supporters performed a seedy act at The Hawthorns, a dozen or so Albion men returned the gesture by taking the proverbial at Molineux.
The Baggies’ five goal haul leaves Mick McCarthy’s tenure in Wolverhampton in serious danger of being flushed down the pan. The Wolves board might have even pulled the chain by the time you read this.
It could have been worse for him, and them. Much worse.
Albion’s attacking dominance was such that Wayne Hennessey could have claimed his side’s man-of-the-match award. Wolves fans, full of optimism when the game kicked-off, were in despair by the time the game finished. Few remained to voice their anger by the time Lee Mason blew his full-time whistle.
This was the most emphatic, dynamic and clinical display of Albion’s modern era. It wasn’t so much a victory, more of a mercy killing. Roy Hodgson appeared a little uneasy and embarrassed by it all.
Those were the opening few paragraphs of a Birmingham Mail match that never saw the light of day, back in 2011/2012. I’ll explain why shortly.
For context, Albion’s home game against Wolves, played on October 16, 2011, ended 2-0, courtesy of Chris Brunt and Shane Long goals.
Some 90 minutes or so after the final whistle, while the remaining media finished off their post-match work, two Wolves supporters staggered down the East Stand steps and onto the pitch.
Hospitality had clearly been enjoyed.
Wolverhampton's very own Laurel and Hardy stumbled towards the centre-circle where one unzipped his trousers and duly rehydrated the hallowed turf, while his accomplice decided to record the moment for posterity and a YouTube audience. In doing so, our inebriated double-act chanted something rude about their hosts. You can't be doing that, gents.
The Hawthorns’ security were swiftly called to escort the men from the premises, thus calling time on their few minutes of glory. Classy fellas, both.
It was four months later, just two days shy of Valentine’s Day, that Albion returned their love at Molineux.
What you read at the top of this post were the opening few pars to my Birmingham Mail match report. It was pulled because my bosses at the time – perhaps understandably – didn’t see it befitting of a family audience. 2012 were such different, innocent times. I wasn't happy, but a re-write was needed. My eventual match report can be found here.
As a side note, the grubby gruesome twosome at The Hawthorns were lucky. Walking around the perimeter of the pitch at the time was Roy Hodgson and his wife Sheila. Hodgson wasn't averse to putting people in their place during his time at Albion as one or two media found to their cost. Had Mrs Hodgson not been accompanying him, our friends from the dark side might have been on the receiving end of a few choice words from the Albion boss.
There have been some great memories from this fixture over the years.
In no particular order, mine would be:
1. Wolves 0 Albion 1, 2001/2002. Jordao should have been sent-off for a reckless challenge. As Wolves players crowded the Portuguese midfielder in quicker time than it takes to say ‘Kevin Muscat’, along came Darren Moore to bounce them all out of the way. The winning goal? Scored by Jordao, of course.
Wolves boss Dave Jones said afterwards: “They’ve had their day, we’ll have ours.”
Yeah, how did that go, Dave?
2. Albion 3 Wolves 2, 1993/94. It was a pretty dismal season for Albion. Apart from this game. And the one at Molineux. The Baggies stayed up by the skin of their teeth during this campaign, helped by this double over their rivals. The first game was a classic. Bob Taylor missed the game through Chicken Pox - yes, Chicken Pox. When has that ever happened before in football, let alone in a game of such importance? Darren Bradley’s shot ‘came out of a cannon’, according to commentator Terry Cooper. He was right. Kevin Donovan then reminded Wolves fans of the score. Glorious stuff.
3. Wolves 2 Albion 3, 2020/21. We know all about the 5-1 in 2012, so let’s go for this one – played behind closed doors. We all feared the worst. Perhaps the most insipid Albion side to play in the Premier League were clearly doomed to lose to a Wolves side that had graced the latter stages of the Europa League a few months earlier. Not so. Albion won, giving the barcode shirt – the 90s’ original and this particular replica – an unbeaten four out of four in games against Wolves (three wins, one draw).
All hail Matheus Pereira. All hail the quirky shirt design.
Then there was Mickey Evans' header at Molineux, Carlos Vela's late equaliser in 2011, and Tony Mowbray's surprise at the intensity of the rivalry, following a 3-0 victory in his opening game as Baggies manager. And, of course, the final straight of the 2001/02 season, when Albion cut into an 11-point deficit to finish second, as Wolves choked under the burden and pressure.
Anyway, onto this weekend.
That it’s an FA Cup fixture adds to the chronicle. There is no grey area: somebody has to win this football match. But, I have a strange feeling this particular meeting will not be decided on the day at The Hawthorns.
It’s no coincidence that one of the most ferociously-anticipated meetings was the FA Cup fourth round game between the clubs in 2007, which Albion won 3-0 with some ease. That was the same afternoon that Albion’s away supporters left Tesco carrier bags on their seats after Wolves had been forced to hand over the South Bank to visiting fans in order to comply with FA ticketing requirements. A free pie and a pint did little to appease the home supporters.
This Sunday is the first game between the two in front of fans since that 5-1 win at Molineux.
If you remove the ‘derby’ filter, any Premier League club being pitched against an EFL club would identify that as a decent opportunity to progress into the fifth road. Wolves are the favourites for this game by virtue of being in the higher division, with a bigger squad. These factors load the pressure onto them. Good.
But this is no free hit for Albion. Carlos Corberan will have his side well-rehearsed for the game. It’ll require an eight out of 10 from each player – maybe even more. And Albion do have the home form to give us hope of a good result. I have every confidence this particular skein of Throstles will be every bit as shape-disciplined as Roy Hodgson’s counterparts a dozen years ago.
I’m not going to venture into predicted sides, formations and extensive pre-match analysis. I’ll leave that to others.
By Sunday’s ridiculous 11.45am kick-off, there will have been 9996 days since the last time Wolves won at The Hawthorns. I’m going to predict that run extends into five figures, with another game to follow at Molineux a week or so later.
This is a match-up that traditionally creates memories and derby-day heroes: Peter Odemwingie, Darren Bradley, Kevin Donovan, Paul Mardon, Bob Taylor, Keith Curle, Mickey Evans, Shane Long, Matheus Pereira, and many others.
Let’s hope for a new one this Sunday.
Pic captain: Cyrille Regis and George Berry of Wolves share a joke with referee Clive Thomas during a goalless draw, April 1980. With thanks to Laurie Rampling for the photo.
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