Disapointment On Derby Day

Mick McCarthy’s Wolves suffered a disapointing 3-0 loss to bitter rivals West Brom in the first local derby since the 2001/2 season.

A 3-0 scoreline, the widest margin between the two sides for 25 years, flattered the Baggies who have retained many of their Premiership stars since relegation last season.

Compared to a Wolves side, already over achieving this term, and put together for a fraction of what Tony Mowbrays side cost, the result for many was almost a foregone conclusion, but the depth of disapointment expressed by both the manager and his players shows the confidence that the team has in its abilities since McCarthy’s arrival.

Speaking after the match McCarthy said :

‘We didn’t play badly – we had our chances but didn’t take them and didn’t defend the first two goals well.

‘We started brightly and then had a free-kick, from which we didn’t put them under any pressure. Five seconds later they had the ball in the back of the net to take the lead. If we had taken one of our chances in the second half it would have been a completely different game.

‘Unfortunately Mark Little came on and gave away a penalty that put a gloss (on the scoreline) that wasn’t there. We thought that he had got a foot to the ball but I haven’t watched it back again yet.

Local lad Karl Henry was one of many to air their disapointment at losing what was the whole teams first black country derby.

‘Of course, being from Wolverhampton I’m absolutely gutted to have lost this game. But it means the same to the rest of the lads too – we’re all feeling it.’ he said, adding

‘Being West Brom and it being the local derby of course it means a lot. But whether we lose to West Brom or Colchester it still hurts.

‘We’ve got Sheffield Wednesday coming to Molineux on Saturday and have got to put this right as soon as we can. I wish there was a game on Tuesday – the quicker the better – but that’s the way it goes sometimes and you just have to roll with it.’

A loss to The Baggies may be painful, but Wolves still lie in the play off zone, 6th on goal difference, at almost the same point in the season when Dave Jones was sacked for his side of Internationals hovering around the relegation slots.

And with just over a quarter of the season gone, they are still on track to reach the play offs themselves.

A win on Saturday against struggling Sheffield Wednesday and the Derby day blues can be forgotten, and the task of reaching The Premiership can become the prime focus once more.

There is much more to this current Wolves side than a local derby. It’s left to the opposition to feel they can say the same