When Wolves Stole Defeat From Victory
By Scott Cooper
December 1 2002
On the 2/5/02 the hearts of Wolves fans sank, as another referee blew his whistle on what was going to be the Season the mighty Wolves made it to the Promised Land - The Premiership.

On the 2/5/02 the hearts of Wolves fans sank, as another referee blew his whistle on what was going to be the Season the mighty Wolves made it to the Promised Land - The Premiership.

 It was Dave Jones`s first full season in charge and optimism around Molineux was high. Dave Jones was spending money like it was going out of fashion, signing top names like Blake, Kennedy, Newton, Butler and Cameron as he assembled his team which would finally gain Promotion for Wolves and the great City of Wolverhampton.

 The season kicked off with a home tie against Portsmouth. It wasn`t the greatest starts for Wolves who found themselves two goals down in a relatively short time, but it was new signings Cedric Roussell and Shaun Newton who hit back against the team from the south-coast earning Wolves a point. Newly relegated Coventry City then played host to Wolves where a single Carl Robinson Goal secured all three points for Wolves - Two league games down and unbeaton.

 Swindon Town were the next visitors to Molineux in a Worthington Cup game which the Wolves players as usual lost to the lower opposition 2-1, but a 1-0 Home win against Watford followed to ensure Wolves unbeaton League run would continue.

 Two draws against Sheffield United and Stockport were followed by wins over Gillingham and Preston before Wolves traveled to the Bescot in a Live ITV Digital game. The game belonged to Man Of The Match Mark Kennedy who ran riot, not only scoring but setting up goals for Kenny Miller who has joined from Rangers on loan and Shaun Newton. Alex Rae, a £1 Million signing from Sunderland made his debut in a game which sore a very comfortable 3-0 and Wolves fired into the top two - a position the fans were to get very used to.

 A last minute Shaun Newton header secured 3 points against Forest before Wolves traveled to Rotherham where, with the help of a 3-0 win and Albion beating Man City Wolves were fired to the top of the league, to the delight of the Wolves fans.

 An Adam Proudlock Hat-Trick was to dispose of Bradford City before Wolves great 11 game undefeated run came to an end at a game at Molineux where Wolves could do everything but score, and a Rob Hulse goal in the first half proved to be the winning goal.

 Wolves then lost to Palace before Drawing with WBA, thrashing Burnley 3-0 disposing of Milwall 1-0 and losing to Norwich 0-2 before Wolves signed Dean Sturridge on Loan from Leicester. The Ex-Ram was not needed by Leicester and made the best possible start for his new club, scoring on his debut against the dons (which we won 1-0) he went on to complete his hat-trick in only his second game as Wolves demolished Barnsley 4-1.

 Wolves then lost to a single goal against Albion, drew 1-1 with Grimsby before losing again to the single goal again Manchester City.

 Wolves beat Birmingham 2-1 drew with Watford, lost to Preston Beat Sheffield United, got knocked out of the FA cup to Gillingham, thrashed Coventry, scraped past Pompey, Lost to Barnsley before hitting the best patch in the season.

 A 7 successive winning run was to follow as Wolves went on to score 20 goals and conceed 4 as we brushed past Rotheram, Palace, Bradford, Crewe, Stockport, Walsall and Gillingham.

 Wolves were now 11 points clear at the top of the league and coasting. The fans started to celebrate promotion to the Premier League in the Home win against Gillingham, what could possibly go wrong? 11 points clear at the top of the league with a mere 9 games to go - Dreamland.

Next Up was Nottingham Forest Away, Wolves went 1-0 up through Dean Sturridge who was now scoring for fun, before Forest hit back, Wolves again took the lead before some awful defending allowed Forest to score a late equaliser, 2 points dropped before another big Derby game.

 St Andrews was next on the list for Wolves and when both centre backs, Joleon Lescott and Paul Butler put Wolves 2-0 up nobody expected Wolves to take anything other than 3 points, but a complete collapse allowed Birmingham to score 2 goals and to draw the game 2-2.

 Wolves fans were not worried though, we were 11 points clear last week, we have nothing to worry about.

 Grimsby Town next visited Molineux, Kevin Muscat played his last game for the club after elbowing a Grimsby defender, got his marching orders, Grimsby scored, Wolves lost 1-0.

 The 11 point lead was slowly falling apart, but Wolves still failed to miss West Brom creeping up behind us.

 Manchester City were now in top spot, and Wolves still had not moved out of the top two since the 3-0 demolition of Walsall early on in the season. With Wolves rapidly needing points to calm a few nerves Wolves could only manage a draw against Norwich City.

 Albion had closed the once 11 point gap right down as Wolves were unable to win in the last 4 games and it was Turf More where 4,000 nervous Wolves fans (all praying for a win) watched the Wolves take a fantastic 3-0 lead. But, Burnley, now with 10 men scored twice as Wolves hung on for the very important 3 points.

 The football Pundits classed Wolves next game against Manchester City as the "Title Decider" - If only. Wolves lost the game 2-0 on April Fools day, the Albion closed the gap even more after beating Coventry.

 Wolves then lost to Millwall, the Albion won and the 11 point lead has vanished. Albion were now above the Wolves and Wolves would have to beat Wimbledon on the last league Home game of the season to ensure West Bromwich Albion were not Promoted, we won 1-0, it was to go down to the final game.

 Wolves fans were still in shock, they had not realised that this 11 point lead had gone and should the Albion win at Home against Crystal Palace then they would be promoted.

 9,000 Wolves fans packed the Away end at Sheffield Wednesday. If Albion were to win, they`d be promoted. If Wolves were to win and Palace were to draw with Albion then the Promised land would belong to Wolves.

 45 Seconds into the game and Wolves were in dreamland, Colin Cameron had put the Wolves ahead, should things stay as they were, Wolves were in the Premiership. Suddenly disaster struck with the news that WBA had scored, the pill was hard enough to swallow, especially when Sheffield equalised. WBA scored again, Sheffield scored again, Wolves equalised, Albion were promoted.

 The 11 point lead had been amazingly thrown away in one of Footballs most famous cock-ups.

 Wolves drew Norwich in the Play-Offs who were a full 14 points behind Wolves. Dean Sturridge took the lead for Wolves but Norwich ran out easy 3-1 winners. The season had gone to pot, and Wolves now needed to score 3 goals to beat Norwich in a tense game at Molineux.

 Kevin Cooper was the only scorer that night and Wolves were left in tatters. Fans wiped tears from their face as the disaster of the season started to hit home. The season was over and our bitter rivals had stolen our place in the Premiership, to make matters worse a team 14 points behind us were to take more out of the season.

 Birmingham City, our second biggest Rivals were now also in the Premiership after beating Norwich at the Millenium stadium.

 Dave Jones and £15 Million had failed as another season in Division One loomed. Fans were furious, but the character of the Wolves fans is fantastic.

 Wolves went on to sell a record amount of Season Tickets for the following year, when maybe, just maybe Wolves wont snatch defeat out of the hands of victory.

 

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