Forget the pre-match cliches. This was bigger than another game, writes Steve Madeley. The prize for Albion was larger than three vital points.
And the significance stretched miles beyond the Black Country boundaries. Victory at Molineux was huge for this season and, Albion will hope, for the next.
Most importantly it was the night when the Baggies’ swagger came back.
The nerves that accompanied them on the eight-mile journey from The Hawthorns to Molineux vanished during a thrilling 90 minutes that saw them reclaim their title as the Championship’s pedigree side.
Trepidation turned to optimism, hesitancy gave way to purpose and uncertainty vanished to make room for a clarity of thought that had threatened to be buried by the tension of recent weeks in the race for promotion.
By the time referee Mark Clattenburg put Wolves out of their misery with the final whistle Albion’s spark was back and the promotion momentum had switched back the way of Tony Mowbray’s men.
It was a fantastic night for Albion’s travelling fans - an occasion to treasure as their thoroughbred side lorded it over the willing workhorses of their near neighbours and could have won by a much greater margin than the final 1-0 scoreline.Yet the fact this victory came against “them down the road” was merely a fabulous bonus.
A victory on the same date at the same time in the same league in similar circumstances would have been almost as sweet, whoever the opponents.
Because, while Baggies fans are unlikely ever to tire of impressive victories over the old enemy, their club have their sights on rising above second-tier skirmishes and local hostilities.
And, for the first time in a while last night, Mowbray’s side
delivered an emphatic statement to their rivals for a top-two finish.
The 1-0 scoreline did not begin to tell the story of a match in which the Baggies hit the woodwork three times, drew the best from the precocious Wayne Hennessey and generally toyed with the team most fans love to beat the most.
Albion, of course, have the capacity to make the next few words appear foolish in three weeks. But the performance at Molineux was the type of display that galvanises players, lifts clubs and inspires supporters.
It bore the hallmarks of a game that could provide the final few gallons of rocket fuel to blast the strongest side outside the
Premiership in among the elite. And should they make it to the top flight over the next three games, there was hope too last night for the chances of prospering.
Wolves are a more than decent side. Yet for spells in a one-sided second half they looked like underdogs in an FA Cup tie.
That is the state of play for Albion, who now have three matches to ensure set-piece worries and defensive jitters are cast aside and they take their place in the division where their ‘A game’ suggests they should be.
If ever a match can give a team one final push, it was last night at Molineux. And the fact the victims were Wolves just magnified the feeling of joy. Just another game? Not on your life.
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31 Comments
A fantastic game in the circumstances played in an excellent spirit by both teams, Baggies have that extra quality that should see them home in the championship and were deserved winners on the night. Wolves can still make the play-offs and can compete with any of the other teams in the shake up.
I’m still glad I come from Wolverhampton, and not sandwell, my god your towns a dive
It was a fantastic night for Albion’s travelling fans - an occasion to treasure as their thoroughbred side lorded it over the willing workhorses of their near neighbours and could have won by a much greater margin than the final 1-0 scoreline………… READ IT AND WEEP
a beautiful use of words
AND SO SAY ALL OF US
2, Sandwell is a Borough not a town. Sandwell contains the towns of Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich. Every junior school student knows this, you obviously quit school before they gave this lesson.
Going up the Mowbury way, in style ofcourse, oh yes yes yes !!
3 Eloquently put.Im cocka-hoop
6. Sandwell. What a dump.
I’ve been a west brom fan since I was 11 - and I’ve never lived in West Bromwich.
I laugh at the wolves on many occassions - but I have never lived in W’ton.
Comment 2 is the sad and bitter words of a humiliated idiot.
I’ve never lived in newbridge either - but if you are representitive of the natives i think I’l leave it that way too.
Great result for us last night. Texted a few of my mates who are Dingles and they were gutted!!!!!
They were saying things like ” we hope you go up so you get spanked every week by Chelsea and Man Utd” Just how bitter are the Wolves fans??? I think its funny that they are more bothered about us then their own team. Think they are all secretly Albion fans!!!! I think Wolves will go nowhere with Mc Carthy at the helm, It made me laugh on sky when they interviewed Mc Carthy and he said he was, (quote) ” Very proud of his team” They lost but he was very proud!!!!! Thats why you are 7th in the league!!!! they need John Gregory or Brian Little. Steve Bull is cutting his managerial teeth at Stafford Rangers and he has taken them down!!!!!!
Come on baggies!!!!!!!
2. A bit like a slug looking down on a snail.
8.Villa. WHO?
On the whole Sandwell may be a dump but don’t pretend Wolverhampton is paradise, ever been to Low Hill or Whitmore Reans?
My goodness! Clarity and perspective from the E & S Pedigree team vs workhorses - love it!
wheres all the dingles today? mouthy malvernwolf etc?????
come on, you are the first to say how good you are, how about now?????
did you not get taught another football lesson last night, Mowbray pure class, baggies style pure class, hit post hit bar, murdered a very average at best wolves side,
boinging all the way to the premier. with style
what a bunch of muppets, only thing they can talk about is sandwell, oh dear was your football that bad, YES LOL , laughing all the way to the premier, back to football boys, whos top of the league, BAGGIES
8.
Yeah, while Aston is soooo ssalubrious. LOL.
Being a sesaon ticket holder at Wolves i can honestly say that we are not good enough to go up. the question is however who is? It hurts me to say it but it is Albion.For me they have under achieved this season.They should be leaps and bounds above anyone in our league with the squad of players they have put together.Last night there was a clear gulf in class from top to seventh in the table! and there is an even bigger gulf to the premier league.My heart says i want wolves to go up! but my head says no.We will make derby look like real madrid in the premier league and it best to wait a few years till we have strength and depth to survive in the promise land.i believe a few fans from other fellow promotion pushing teams feel the very same as i do.
As a true Baggies fan I can only hope that Wolves get into the play-offs and get a promotion place. You cant beat a real black country derby. I think points will not be so easy to come by in the Premiership and taking 6 from the Dingles would certainly help a lot.
18 is a quote from an actual dingle fan who was ACTUALLY THERE last nite……………..hope it makes you all feel better to know that there is clear GULF IN CLASS between us……….GOIN UP IN STYLE….OH YEAH
YOU PUT YOUR GERA IN……………………..YOU PUT YOUR GERA OUT……………………….IN OUT IN OUT HE SCORES AND MAKES YOU SHOUT…………..HE GETS THE LOVELY WINNER AND YOUR TOP OF THE LEAGUE…………………THATS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT……………OHHHHHHHHH SLAP A DINGLE SLAP A DINGLE KNEES BENT ARMS UP BOING BOING BOING
well done vile and dingle fans for not having anything football to talk about, the way you both play I can see why,
put dummies back in and suck hard,
get mommy to pass teddy back etc,
boing boing, oh what a class of 2007 2008 them albion players are, looks on with envy from pram lol
No.2. “I’m still glad I come from Wolverhampton, and not sandwell, my god your towns a dive”. Er, if you saw the match last night, it was played in WOLVERHAMPTON not Sandwell. The surrounding area of Molyneux is a dump but you ought to have known whether you were at home or away mate.
police in wolverhampton have issued a statement regarding the sudden disappearance of wolves striker sylvain ebanks blake. The chief of police appealled for public help by saying “we appeal for the safe return of sylvain, he was last seen at 19.45pm on the 15th April 2008 at molineux football stadium in leon barnett’s pocket”
18 beano,we are top of the league FA CUP semis and weve underachieved,you mean we are that good we shud be up already and won the cup,boing boing going up the MOWBURY WAY
The baggies swagger is back BIONG BIONG WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE
25.if you was as good as you make out you would have won the cup and you ain’t up yet still games to play.
what happened to you being promoted by Christmas.
The truth of the matter is that Wolves were narrowly beaten by marginally the best side in a very poor division. Yes they could have scored more, but they didn’t. They also failed to score against a below par Portsmouth. So much for the goal machine.
Having said that, the Baggies deserved it on the night, deserve to be promoted and will probably (along with the other two promoted teams) come straight back down again.
As for Wolves, there is a slim chance of a play off spot, a reasonable chance of winning the play offs (if they make 6th spot) and the near certainty of relegation if they were promoted. It would be fun though.
As for the baggies fans who talk of Wolves being murdered, you obviously weren’t at the game. It was a close call even if you did create more clear cut chances and played better football. It could easily have been a draw.
Enjoy your moment (as you clearly are) but after all this cockiness, don’t be surprised when you get ripped to pieces when failing to stay up next year (if indeed you don’t bottle it this year). That lead balloon effect looms again.
28. Dave.
Those grapes are so sour it’s painful just watching you eat them. As you know if you’ve read the posts most Baggies are taking nothing for granted. Every neutral observer as well as many of your own fans said we were far the better team. Take those nipple clamps off and remember that football is about pleasure.
29.The Real Bully
Just because your seasons over no need to weep.
P.S.Whats with the smoke bombs dirty dingles.
BOING BOING TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
WHAT YOU GOTTA SAY BOUT THAT DAVE WERE JUST TOO GOOD 4 U!