Express & Star

Classic match report - Wolves 3 Swindon 1, 1980

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It's not often a win over Swindon Town results in a pitch invasion, grown men crying and 'South American style' mass street celebrations.

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But when Wolves beat the Robins 3-1 at Molineux in 1980, it meant a return to Wembley for a second League Cup final in six years.

And despite Swindon being in the old Third Division (League One to our younger readers) and Wolves on their way to a sixth place finish in the First Division (...the Premier League) this two-legged semi-final was anything but straightforward.

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In the first leg at the County Ground the home side shocked the favourites with a 2-1 victory, Peter Daniel scoring a crucial goal for John Barnwell's side.

Three weeks later, and with confidence boosted by a 1-0 win at Old Trafford the Saturday before the game against a Manchester United team who would lose the title by just two points (Mel Eves was the hero that day), Wolves hosted Swindon in the return leg, gunning for Wembley in front of 41,031 at Molineux (there were gate receipts of £80,000, a stadium record).

What followed was an evening of true drama.

The goalscoring began after half-time when John Richards and Eves put Wolves ahead on aggregate.

They were then pegged back when goalkeeper Paul Bradshaw was Harold Schumacher to Swindon striker Alan Mayes' Patrick Battiston, launching into what can only be described as a knee-based assault on his face.

If it had happened in the street Bradshaw would have been arrested. The referee settled for a penalty to Swindon, much to Bradshaw protestations (!). And poor Mayes needed stitches, with Swindon club secretary, a Mr Jeffries, understating: "From what Alan mumbled, it appeared Wolves' goalkeeper caught him in the mouth with his knee."

I think you're right there.

Kenny Hibbitt is chaired from the field by the pitch-invading Wolves fans.

The following day's Express & Star reported: "Emotions ran high as wee Willie Carr, now destined for his first ever Wembley appearance, broke down and wept. One after the other the Wolves players hugged manager John Barnwell.

"He, too, was mobbed fans and, finally, the iron man of Molineux cracked, tears pouring down his face as countless young fans added their congratulations.

"It was a night of emotion not seen at Molineux for many a year and continued way into the night.

"For Barnwell the celebrations had extra meaning, for his thoughts must have slipped back 11 months when his life hung in the balance and he cheated death after a terrible car crash.

"In Wolverhampton the celebrations took on a South American style. Fans roared into the street chanting, shouting and car horns blaring. It was quite a night..."

They would of course play, and beat, Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest in the final in front of 96,527 at Wembley. Pretty good, Wolves, pretty good.

Richards strikes - and it's Wembley, here we come!

Wolves 3 Swindon 1 (4-3 on aggregate)

By Eddie Griffiths

The fans carried John Richards off the Molineux pitch last night after he had played a brilliant part in getting Wolves to Wembley for the first time in six years.

It was the end to a tension-packed night and a dramatic climax for the splendid striker who celebrated his 350th appearance in the first team with two cracking goals.

They helped give Wolves a 4-3 aggregate win over the plucky Third Division side - and book their ticket for the League Cup Final against holders Nottingham Forest, on March 15.

And Wolves won their way through despite carrying Andy Gray, with a damaged knee from Saturday's game at Old Trafford, and Kenny Hibbitt, who fought so valiantly throughout despite damaging ligaments in his right ankle after only five minutes of this nerve-racking battle.

But before Richards killed off the valiant Swindon challenge, Wolves looked every inch of edgy, anxious individuals desperate to wipe out the 2-1 scoreline in the first leg of the semi-final.

Chances went begging and mistakes were a dime a dozen.

In a fantastic 12-minute second-half spell that could not have been better directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Wolves galloped to a 2-0 lead and then were pulled back to all-square on aggregate when they gave away a penalty.

Having bludgeoned Swindon senseless in the first half with their pressure, Wolves went ahead in the 52nd minute.

Richards soared above Billy Tucker and Roy Carter to meet a high cross from Geoff Palmer and head a magnificent goal.

Palmer cleared off the line from Tucker a minute later and, within five minutes, a speculative overhead kick by Mel Eves sailed into the net for a spectacular goal to put Wolves 2-0 up on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.

Swindon were at their most dangerous when trailing and in the 64th minute referee Neil Midgley awarded a Swindon a penalty after Paul Bradshaw had blatantly fouled Alan Mayes when attempting to stop the Swindon striker. Skipper Ray McHale made no mistake from the spot.

It was anybody's game, but it was Richards again who clinched the final appearance after Jimmy Allan had failed to hold on to a rocket drive by Derek Parkin in the 74th minute.

Richards swept the ball home - and Molineux exploded to the roars of "Wembley, Wembley..."

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One month later Andy Gray's goal won the final 1-0 at Wembley against Nottingham Forest.

Nobody can argue with John Barnwell's decision to play Emlyn Hughes, the man who has played in 28 semi-finals with Liverpool, but never won a League Cup winners medal.

He made few mistakes and covered up a number of errors by George Berry who got carried away by the drama of it all.

Wolves had the sort of good fortune that can win trophies.

Palmer and Parkin both produced goal-line clearances with Bradshaw beaten, but, at the same time, Wolves should have been granted a first half penalty when Tucker sent Gray staggering, but the referee ordered a free-kick on the edge of the area - a clear two yards away from the offence.

Carr had the ball in the net for a fourth time after Richards had laid it on in a last-gasp breakaway.

Referee Midgley denied him the glory of a goal, having blown for time seconds before Carr's chip cross the line.

But that final whistle still meant "Wembley, here we come..."

WOLVES: Bradshaw, Palmer, Parkin, Daniel, Hughes, Berry, Hibbitt, Carr, Gray, Richards, Eves. Subs: McAlle.

Goals: Richards (52, 74), Eves (57).

SWINDON: Allan, Lewis, Stroud, McHale, Tucker, Carter, Miller, Kamara, Rowland, Mayes, Williams. Sub: Ford.

Goal: McHale (64, penalty).

Attendance: 41,031