Football almost came home, England had just hosted Euro 96 and the Tory government was still clinging to power, writes Tim Nash.
Yep, it’s been a long time since Wolves had sustained equal footing in the Black Country derby.
So long in fact that, after the 1996-97 season in which Iwan Roberts’s four goals helped a Wolves side featuring current Albion assistant boss Mark Venus achieve their last double over their arch rivals, the gold and black half of the Black Country has barely celebrated a win.
No wonder Baggies fans are always Boinging when this tensest of tense fixtures comes around.
Just twice in 17 games have Wolves tasted victory against Albion in the last 11 years.
Forget its billing as the so-called nastiest derby - for Wolves fans, the arrival of their local rivals means it’s fast becoming the most dreaded on the fixture calendar, because it’s one they can’t win.
Wolves have lost 10 and drawn five of the 17 games since Mark McGhee’s side put the Baggies to the sword twice in 1996-97.After Roberts’s exploits, you have to go to the George Ndah-inspired 3-1 success of March 18, 2001 for Wolves’ next win.
Then you have to fast forward to the narrow 1-0 win courtesy of Jay Bothroyd last March - and even that was a game Albion could and perhaps should have won.
There’s no doubt about it, Albion are becoming Wolves’ bogey team.
Last night was a typical example of what we have come to expect in these McCarthy-Mowbray skirmishes: an open game, a fair few chances and some good football.
You can’t accuse McCarthy’s Wolves of lacking effort, and it certaily wasn’t the case last night in another breathless, full throttle encounter. Where the agony lies for Wolves is the gulf in quality between the two teams. Understandably, they don’t want to admit it because it’s “that lot down the road” but, it has to be said, this sequence is no fluke.
At the moment, or as it has been for the last two years since the derby was resurrected after a five-year absence, Albion are simply better than Wolves.
They control the ball better, they react quicker and they, therefore, have more time on the ball.
Nowhere last night did they control the play more than in midfield, where Jonathan Greening and Zoltan Gera wove patterns around Wolves.
As another Black Country derby was being played out, two former Wolves stalwarts pitted their wits against each other. Paul Ince’s MK Dons all but secured promotion with a draw against Graham Turner’s Hereford. In four years at Wolves, Ince never played in a Black Country derby but he would have loved to have wound the clock back and got stuck in last night.
Regular Albion watchers say the only sides to have enjoyed success against them have been those who get in their faces - ironically the mantra of Ince and Alex Rae during their time at Wolves.
Play football against them and there’s only winner - the better footballing team. At the moment, Wolves don’t possess the quality to match them.
But all is not lost. Wolves possess the spirit, endeavour and ability to qualify for the play-offs.
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21 Comments
Thanks STATO just what we needed to read! we already know this! we dont need reminding.
lets just hope that Morgan is a man of his word and Splashes the cash on a decent squad next year.
next year it will be QPR and about 6 or 7 other sides in the running as well as us!! there will be alot of money being spent in this league.
we were outplayed and made too many mistakes last night!
chin up though lads it was our best performance of the season! piff!
yea right that’s why they only scored one goal…
Says it all really… more home-grown players in the team might be conducive to an increase in passion and understanding of what this game means to all of us. Difficult to accept that Albion are now arguably the bigger and better club but accept it we must… we can only hope that the tide turns in our favour once more in the next few years.
Yep - not since i was 15 have we done the double. I wasn’t allowed to go to the hawthorns for that game as my dad wouldn’t let me go with my mates as he thought i was too young! Gutted! I’m now 26 and have only ever been at 2 wolves victories over albion in my life - a bit sad really! Good old George Ndah and Jay Bothroyd!
And Long may it continue, Boing Boing
I hate to admit but Tesco’s are what we are not… well organised, well managed, often entertaing and attacking with a huge variety of goalscoring options. It’s not just about money, I do not believe Wolves will achive any (lasting) success under the current regime of Muppet Mick, Connor & Moxey -how long will it be before others realise this? I have long been against Muppet for his dodgey selections and tactics (not to mention continually spouting utter rubbish), why did we play the same squad as the weekend when we failed to score from possession? Last night we needed players to penetrate like EASTWOOD and Kyle. As ever, same old story, huff and puff, more points dropped and and agressive strikeforce on the bench ..except for the last 15mins. - Collins is a liability and thank god we haven’t had to endure Muppet’s all time favourite S.Ward. Please Wolves be rid of these jokers!!!
You can get the stats to say anything you bloody well want.
If you look at all the league matches between the two sides, Wolves have won 51 and Albion 52.
So what?!
If we’re talking about statistics, lets look at the team’s reacords in the Premiership.
In Albion’s first season in the Prem (02/03) they amassed a whopping 26 points.
In Wolves’ first season in the Prem (03/04) they amassed 33 points. 7 more than the Tesco’s.
Then, in Albion’s second season in the Prem (04/05) they amassed 34 points, just one more than we achieved.
So…Albion fans, you really think you’re equipped for the Premiership? Best use your millions to install starlifts and walk in baths for Phillips =)
Just want to say I’m EUPHORIC BOING BOING
This is a highly unnecessary article on a day when fans are still hurting.
You are not up yet but it might not be a bad thing for us when we make the play offs - confidence for you - that the Tescos are out of the way.
I thought I was at church when I came out of the golden palace last night as I am sure I heard THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD. Zebedee saddo’s!
Well done Albion. Fully deserved victory from your creative mid field and forwards. As regards Wolves I hope Mick goes in the summer. If he wants players who just do an honest shift, then we will stay down next season. His use of Eastwood has been bizarre all season, although this player made an immediate impact when he came on last night.
7 - yes statistics can say many things… but the story was about RECENT games, not our entire history.
When Nathan says he has only seen wolves win 2 derby games that really puts the stats into perspective.
You talk about wolves “first” season in the prem… err don’t you mean “only” season ?
We had three years in the top flight in the last five years - and we’re heading back there now. Thats not stats - those are the FACTS.
Your final comment about Phillips just highlights you as another sad dingle too bitter to say well done (as i have to you guys in the past).
I actually wish you well now for the rest of the campaign - I’d like nothing better than to have you up with us - but i think its looking tough now.
Brummie Rob - yes you heard The Lord’s My shepherd - but what did we hear from you guys ???
Nothing.
Saddo’s ? - look int the mirror pal.
S*U*P*E*R
I wonder why Wolves fans never include the full record of cup matches (and play-offs) in our history? Not so close then is it?
Wolves mid-table moaners this season, no chance of playoffs, relegation to league one next year!
I’m such a cretin and im dog ugly.
Strange that one 13 only heard you after you scored as usual your support is …. well you heard the rest of it last night
I would not trust giving money to mad mick he is an idiot and needs to be replaced,how many players are prem class i think 1 the goalkeeper.
hey remember when you beat us in 1952 boing boing super baggiezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
12 - Happy Baggie
I am more than willing to admit that you were the better side in the second half. You took your chances, we didn’t. Thats what decided the game.
14 - Neil
Surely this just comfirms what I said? That you can get the stats to say anything you like?!
The Baggies will probably be back down this time next year.
As for Wolves,it’s back to the drawing board AGAIN!