By Scott Cooper
November 17 2002

Wolves shot into 6th place with a good performance against Coventry. The fans have forgotten the poor performance, against Brighton and made up for it.

 Wolves secured Three Points in a typical scrappy derby at Coventry, the win took the Wolves into 6th place for the first time this season at the delight of the traveling Wolves faithful.

 Paul Ince replaced Ivar Ingimarsson and Shaun Newton came into the side to replace the suspended Kevin Cooper. JJ Melligan was recalled from Kidderminster and named as a sub, along with Oakes, Butler, Andrews and Ingimarsson.

 The game got off to a typical Derby game, the ball bobbled about and the game was spoilt by niggly fouls, these fouls dominated the early stages although it was Coventry who started the brighter and found themselves with most of the ball.

 The game however turned on 15 Minutes when Ex-England Captain Paul Ince clatterd into Gary McAlister. McAlister had proved to be key to the dominant start that Coventry made however he was knocked out, left without a front tooth and had to sit the rest of the game in the changing room with concussion for his troubles. Ince got away scot-free to the clear annoyance of the home fans, who voiced their opinion whenever Ince touched the ball.

 The scoreline however turned on 38 minutes. Alex Rae picked the ball up in the middle of the half, shimmied and hit a cracking low drive which was tipped onto the post by the Coventry keeper, the ball rolled along the line for Joleon Lescott to smash the ball into the empty net to secure his first game of the season.

 The goal was greeted by a mini pitch-invasion as Wolves fans were abducted by the men in the bright yellow coats.

 The goal woke the home side up, and it was Wolves who were relieved to hear the Half-Time whistle as Coventry finished the stronger side.

 The Second Half started pretty much the same way as the first. The ball again continued to bobble around in midfield before Coventry picked up the pace however Wolves survived with some great defending, Irwin getting clatterd for his troubles.

 77 Minutes on the clock and Wolves put the game beyond all doubt. Coventry failed to clear a Kennedy cross, the ball found the feet of Alex Rae who smashed a cracking low drive into the bottom corner of the goal from 20 yrds. Cue another pitch-invasion, more arrests and a party back to Wolverhampton with our side now filling in the last Play-Off spot.

MOM - Joleon Lescott - Pulled off a superb tackle when Hignett was sure to score in the 5th minute and scored his first goal of the season.

For Match Photos Click Here