Its almost as though the fight to stay in the Premier League is put aside this weekend even though three vital points are at stake. This is all about being the local heroes and putting one over the traditional rivals. No matter what the league positions it is always the same and the added fire to this Sunday’s game is that it is the first ever Premier League Black Country derby.
In the past both Wolves and Albion had considered Villa to be their main rivals. Albion because of their proximity to Aston and Wolves because in the 50s and early 60s they were competing with Villa to be the top Midlands side. The Black Country boundaries make the Albion-Wolves rivalry more natural and I think in the 60s the rivalry became more intense. The one game that took it to a new level was in 1967. Wolves had just been promoted back to the top flight and fate would have it that the first home match of the season was at home to the Baggies. Wolves looked to have secured a win but in the last minute Tony Brown scored for the Albion, using his hand in the process. Wolves keeper Phil Parkes charged upfield to confront the referee in the mayhem that followed and manhandled the ref and was sent off. To make matters worse for Wolves fans the teams met again a week later at the Hawthorns and the Albion won 4-1.
The modern day rivalry was then established and the Hawthorns away day became memorable in the early 70s with mass away followings, no little crowd trouble and some memorable games. 3-3 in 1970, a brilliant Dave Wagstaffe inspired 4-2 win for Wolves in 1971, and a 3-2 success in 1972. Wolves were then to have their darkest days but did sign off in 1984, the last times the teams met in the top flight with a 3-1 win at the Hawthorns with a Danny Crainie 25 yarder giving Wolves an unexpected win on their way to relegation.
It was ironic that when Wolves were at the lowest ebb in their history that it was the signings of two players from Albion that started to turn things around. Andy Thompson and of course especially Steve Bull were to become Wolves legends and it was one of the finest memories when Bully scored a last minute winner in his first match back at the Hawthorns as a Wolves player.
Since that time Albion have been a bit of a bogey team to Wolves in recent years and Sunday’s game will be seen as a chance to wipe out some unhappy recent memories. In league meetings between the teams its 52 wins to Albion, 51 to Wolves and 39 draws. It would be good to square that up this weekend.
Category: Team News
Tags: Team News« Wolves nearly back on track | Home |
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