By Dave Hunt
January 5 2003

In one of the best games that I have ever attended at Molineux, every single player in a gold shirt put on a performance of Premiership quality. If a TV channel tried to show a highlights program, they’d still have an 80-minute show! The weather was freezing but the mood was incredible at a packed Molineux. Over 27,000 had turned up to watch Wolves play Newcastle, who sit 4th in the Premiership. I overheard some people talking before the game. They were saying how Newcastle were going to walk over us and win something along the lines of 4-0. In my mind, despite the odds, I disagreed.

And after 6 minutes I felt correct!!! Paul Ince volleyed home an amazing goal from inside the area to send the stadium into frenzy. From that point forth it was Wolves, Wolves, Wolves and it was no surprise when Mark Kennedy slotted a second goal on the half hour mark. Again – the Southbank went mad and the Toon Army followers looked on in shock.

Then things changed a little when Jermaine Jenas netted for Newcastle and Alan Shearer scored from the penalty spot just before half time to leave the score line at 2-2 for the break.

HALF TIME: 2-2

Immediately after the break, Wolves conceded a free kick 10 yards out of the area, but Denis Irwin protested by throwing the ball away. This earned Wolves veteran defender a yellow card and also meant the kick was moved forward 10 yards. The shots from Alan Shearer were good – but not as good as the double clearance of the line by Joleon Lescott.

Wolves then went on the counter attack and scored their 3rd goal. George Ndah continued his run of good form, slamming a shot past Shay Given. Not long after this Nolberto Solano was forced to clear a shot from Lescott off the line, giving the Toon army another scare.

Wolves carried on with the shots and pressure, the best being from Shawn Newton, which forced an excellent save out of Shay Given on the 75-minute mark. We also had a penalty decision turned down when Ndah was pushed down after a weak display by the Newcastle defence.

Newcastle then started to get back on their feet, but couldn’t make it past Wolves. Matt Murray made an incredible save from a one on one shot from Bellamy and Lee Naylor cleared the ball off the line after substitute LuaLua tried to tap in another failed Bellamy shot. Bobby Robson played three forwards and one attacking midfield at the end of the game but Wolves stood strong and walked away with an incredible win. Lets hope for a good draw in the next round (Man Utd away – a walk in the park for the team that played today!)

My Man Of The Match: JOLEON LESCOTT (I know he has been for three weeks now but he is by far the best player on the team! Props also to Matt Murray though – great performance by the young keeper).