Defeat at Villa Park last month felt seminal.
But the gap to third has since increased to 11 points with only 18 left to contest.
Worth remembering then, as Wolves head to Wales for what feels very much like a cup final, that they don’t need to win this game.
Even in the context of the title, another demoralising setback doesn’t spell the end. This group have repeatedly shown they possess the resilience and mental strength to move on quickly.
Victory on the other hand would put an end to any lingering doubts about who is going to finish top of the pile come May.
I just hope then that the players don’t fear the challenge, but instead relish the opportunity and deliver the performance they’ve been building towards all season.
Cardiff
Hats off to Neil Warnock. He would have got my vote for manager of the year too. Cardiff were heading down last season when he took charge and now they look unbeatable.
If they do end up winning the league they’ll have achieved an abnormally high points total and given the advantages Wolves have enjoyed with their recruitment, it would surely rank as his greatest achievement as a manager.
His team are the epitome of Championship football, which is to say big and strong at the back, powerful moving forward and always direct.
They put a lot of balls into the box, recycle the play continuously and are very good at hanging in games when it isn’t going their way.
They showcased all those qualities on Monday when they definitely should have lost at Bramall Lane and somehow escaped with a point.
Wolves were simply overpowered in the reverse fixture at Molineux and can expect more of the same if they don’t come ready to fight tomorrow.
Wolves
It was a pleasant surprise to see Diogo Jota back against Hull and it’s probably only the front three where’s there’s a question mark over the team selection.
I would go with the above, which I think will best suit the game. Afobe up top gives us more power and pace to run in behind. I would have concerns that a combination of Cav, Costa and Jota could be too easily marginalised.
Nuno may decide that N’Diaye is a better bet in midfield and would give us greater protection at set pieces, but if we’re going to win it’ll be through outplaying Cardiff and Saiss is the better technician.
John Ruddy has looked progressively more uncomfortable the longer the season has gone on, but he can atone for recent errors with a big performance tomorrow.
Predictions
I can see Wolves getting a goal, dominating the ball and controlling the entire game. I can also see Cardiff coming out fast and simply overwhelming us.
Therefore, I’m going to perch on the fence and simply hope for the best.
A draw is definitely a better result for us than it is for Cardiff and I wouldn’t be unhappy with that outcome here and now.
1-1.
Up The Wolves!
If we lose this one it will get me panicking….I know I shouldn’t I just wouldn’t be able to help myself. We were average at best against Hull so will need to improve in South Wales.
That said I think we will get a result UTW
Colin is gonna be spluttering and gobbing spittle at all his players during his pre match “gee up”, he is that jealous of our set up and style of play.
The only thing more dinosaurish on the planet is a crocodile, and his type of football will be pissed all over in the Prem.
Whatever the outcome tomorrow, we will still be top over the weekend, and another one chalked off the wall.
I think the football dogs have set this one up for us to finally step over the Prem threshold, and we are gonna cream the snot out of them.
5 – 1 at a canter.
FOwb
Clive, I agree with you about the crocodile and piss remark.
I for one am pleased that the photos have returned
Mildenhall, take a bow son!
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Yeah, I had that too DWW. It does that sometimes, but I try not to blame myself. Just persevere.
Great summary Thomas, little to add on that.
Cardiff have lost to Bolton and Blues this season, and they had a fine losing streak over Christmas… but that feels like years ago, not months! They’re solid so I won’t get my hopes up. As you say a defeat or draw aint the end of the world for us.
Pressure’s all on you tomorrow Colin!
I’ve developed a new level of respect for Warnock this season. I agree a draw would do it, but I can’t remember us ever playing for a draw before!!! I’m going for a 6-goal thriller with a couple of sendings off and a ball-boy fight subsequently broken up by wolfie and wendy.
I’m nervous, but that’s the Wolves way of old. I hope Nuno dispenses with that old Wolves cliche when it comes to the team!
Frustrating about the loss of my post. This time I will just make my forecast..
This has happened to me in the past, now I make a document and copy and paste it into the blog.
I thought the first game was the most frustrating 90 mins of the season as Cardiff obstructed, blocked and generally bullied their way to the three points. Our heroes have grown up a lot since then and although Warnocks team will be well fired up for this one, we too will be itching to put the record straight.
A terrific match in prospect.
Going to e a tough one to call. Are we still going to be getting over last Friday nights herculian effort? I hope not, that said we probably are in a good position, whatever the outcome tomorrow. I definately see goals, for both sides, and I believe our defence will be tested considerably more than of late. Shared points; possibly, but i’m going to be selfish and go for all 3 and pay back Cardiff for their win at our place earlier in the season.
lost my post too !
VICTORY WILL BE SWEET ON THIS ONE
I have watched all the Championship games when they have been on Sky, I have not been overly impressed with the Cardiff lads, they can kick, foul and bully teams as they did with Wolves. But, they’re main ace in the bag is that they have belief and drive in the knowledge that if they keep going to the last second they have enough to steal the game. This is something Iv’e seen them do time after time, Sheff Utd was a classic example, time-wasting fouling and right at the death bullying their way in the area and snatching the equalizer.
Nuno got his wake up call against Cardiff and learnt pretty damn quick about life in the Chumpionshite, he was not happy, he was pissed and he wants to atone for that beating our players received and the especially the defeat.
I see us going there to play, to take the game to them, to stand up to them and to win, with the bonus for the first time we shall have a half decent referee who understands the thing that is Cardiff.
So Cardiff 0-2 Wolves for me.
Come on me babbies, Me, Twixfix, Lilian and Jen de Wolf will be sampling the ale and watching the boys move that step closer to the PL.
Win lose or draw I don’t give a toss as long as they play like last Friday, it will be entertaining for sure.
Mentally tired, physically drained…have we got the LEGS for the final run in ?
YOU BET WE HAVE…WE ARE WOLVES…C.O.Y.W.
A win all but wraps up promotion!
See Warnocks at it again say’s (he hope Nuno and the boys can calm down in their technical area” LOL but respect he has done a great job at Cardiff.
Watched Liverpool last night and just goes to show just how far Fosun will have to go to get us in the Champions League.
See Stu say’s Mike Dean will be in charge (hopefully).
Think we will show why we deserve to be champions
Here we go then………
1st v 2nd
The physical team v the footballing team
Round one, at the Mol, went to the physical team
Now we head to round two.
This is THE game of the season. It has it all. Club with little money v club with loads of money.
Two managers who have both worked miracles in getting their teams to the top of this division. One who has a proven record in this country and one for whom it is his first taste of English football.
Colin will use every trick in his book to try and upset our rhythm, every dirty trick, and he knows many, will be employed to put us off our game.
We have to be spot on, both mentally and physically. This is going to be the hardest game we have played this season.
However, Cardiff are not just a physical team, they do have players who are capable of producing decent football. Their set-piece play is one of their strengths and will be a big challenge for our defence. However in Boly, Coady and Bennett we have arguably the best three defenders in this league. I am more worried about Rudy. I have backed him here when others have criticised him. Lately though I have to agree that he is our weakest link. (No doubt Nuno will already be looking for a replacement).
Can we get anything from this game? Of course we can. We have outstanding talent throughout this team. Players who can produce wonderful football, players who have the ability not seen in a Wolves shirt since…….well god only knows.
I would take a point from this and be pleased but I want us to rub Colin’s nose firmly in the dirt.
Please make it happen lads.
🙂
Great spot on summaries by Thomas and you sev.
Hardly anything to add, but imo Afobe doesn’t work hard enough at closing down compared to Leo’s work rate and link up play, although he is more of a natural striker – tricky choice for me.
Let’s hope for a great game.
COMBs!
Well this is the climax of the season. Cardiff will be brutal. I would love to stuff Warnock. Reminiscent of the play off final win. We deserve to go up as champions so this one we’ve got to win.
Been waiting for this one for ages. Not felt this nervous before a game for a long time but if we turn up we are a better team than them. 3-1 wolves for me
Before Hull I was confident of winning the league. A win here will definitely put that confidence back, but I’ll take the draw all day long. Must admit that after Hull I would definitely go with Bonatini up front.
Crikey, squeaky bum time or what?
Warnock’s done a great job this season, and deserves praise, but I’ve never really liked the bugger and am hopeful of a repeat of the scoreline from that other time we played one of his teams in Cardiff.
A word on the strikers, Afobe plays on the last defender’s shoulder, and so can be quite easy to mark out of a game, like he was against Boro, while Bonatini plays a lot deeper and is much better at linking play with the other attackers. While there is no question who I would prefer a chance in the box to fall to (Afobe, for the record), I wonder whether Bonatini’s ability to pull defenders out of position and open space for the wingers might be a better asset in this fixture. I think we’re fairly likely to see both of them at some point, as if one tactic doesn’t work Nuno will just try the other!
Typing is much harder with your fingers crossed.
COME ON ME BABBIES!
The very last time I was at a football match in Carduff Colin was there and I guess a lot of you’s were too.
Colin had his scrotum face on that day.
We had won be half time.
I remember it like it was last week, yet I cannot remember any games last year except Liverpool away.
So history does repeat it’s self – Colin / Carduff / Albion down Wolves up (2003)
Based on that there really is only one score for tomorrow.
But although I don’t like ode Colin, he’s good value for money – respect over the Veela/Leeds Chairpersons having a pop – Colin just said “he’d use any tactic or agent that gave him an advantage – he’s on Carduff website saying he’s looking forward to seeing the Wolves in Ninian Park and that we are the best team in the Chump – may not quite be magnanimous but you know he’ll wave back when we sing “One Colin Wanka!”
FOwb back to the chump, Veela to stay in the Chump, Fekin Wolves Ay We
Totally right, a draw from this game will pretty much suffice. It’s not 2 points dropped, cos Cardiff don’t get them either. Draw, and we’re champions. Not worried about villa or Fulham at this stage.
Wolves need to be smart in this game and be patient, not get wound up by the inevitable neanderthal tactics that will get thrown at them, but take the high road, take their chances and defend well.
Let’s finish this boys.
Go Champs!
I remember one pissy down night I went out over a golf course lamping with a pair of deerhound lurches and a traveler mate of mine
I remember hearing a thundering noise , raising the lamp and seeing a hare at full tilt coming toward me . A look of absolute terror in its eyes . Just behind its backside also at full tilt was one of the dogs , transfixed on the hare , until they both looked at the lamp , the dog lost concentration for a split second and the hare escaped.
That’s the. Sort of thing that stays with you in life , one of the things you think you’ll only see once . Truth be told though , I did see a similar sight when we played Cardiff at molineux . It was Miranda being hunted down by that Zohore . I knew at that instant that he was the week link . He is not good enough at this level.
Cardiff will not be able to bully the back line this time
It’s got a score draw written all over it
Two all to the wolves
On a golf course Matt, were you a member, whats your handicap ????
My handicap was the escape van was temperamental when you had to start it !
Youm one of a kind,
Youm one of a kinnnnnd.
London loyal.
Youm one of a kind.
Great feckin story, you and a Pikey on a golf course.
Top man.
Flanaganesque…..
I spy with my little Hare
A winning goal by Ruben Neves…..
Robin,
You might be mystic meg in disguise but NO ONE EVER predicted 2 x saved peno’s after 93 minutes
Fekin wolves ay we
Lol Rick Rack.
Had to go to my daughter’s party instead of watching the match but was sure if I did we would win 1-0 and Neves would score!
Okay I’ve had a drink but am I a prophet or what!!!!!
Warnock is looking to get promoted and nothing else. Nuno is looking to not only get promoted but also set the basis for a team that can thrive in the Premier League without changing the style entirely during the upcoming summer. Nuno is battling the referees as well as the opposing teams this season.
Look for Warnock’s team to be in a relegation battle all next season if they do get promoted as their primitive style of play is both capitialized on by more talented teams and penalized by the referees.
Up with Nuno (and if we lose tomorrow “Nuno out!”).
I think its going to go
contain them for 20 minutes hit them on the break one nil wolves, studs up tackles handbags (red card them)7 minutes added on they score at the end
if not that then we absolutely annihilate them 3-0
Come On You Wolves _/\/\_
The only reason you were on a golf course, London, was because you heard you could play with your balls, and there were eighteen holes.
I’m assuming you never got a one in hole??!!
Lol … you know it Clive …. never been very good with the birdies
I’m demanding nothing but full blooded commitment tomorrow from the Nuno’s men. No quarter given or asked, 100% effort from minute 1 to the final whistle, challenge everything waste nothing.
If we do this victory will be ours.
We have better technical players, we play better football, we have a need to repay the scoreline in Aug17.
The team picks itself, but I prefer Bonatini to Afobe, and N’Diaye to Saiss on this occasion to start and agree that Jota should start on the bench.
I’m a lucky boy tomorrow because I’m joining up with the Ticketmaster, the lovely Jen de Wolf and Mrs Twix for the trip back into the valleys in a repeat of Memory Lane when we came up 3-0 trumps over Colin’s Blades in 2003.
We owe Nuno some plaudits for the shame that 23 other Championship managers collectively overlooked him for the award of manager of the season….. what a response it would be to smash the Bluebirds.. and all but mathematically secure promotion.
I shall be singing my bollocks off tomorrow and cheering the lads to victory….
Hope this doesn’t descend into trench warfare…a lot rests on the ref as no doubt Cardiff will try to kick us around and losing our heads like at ‘Boro isn’t a winning formula.
Expect a tight game with few chances and a stalemate result. Onwards and Upwards.
Everyone seems to forget the reason we appeared to lose our heads at Boro was the sheer ineptness of the referee.
If he had done his job properly, THEY would have been down to nine men, not us.
I will take us losing two men tomorrow, as long as the result is the same!!
I think we will get done again by Cardiff, so will be delighted with a draw. Come on Wolves please prove me wrong.
Still slightly concerned with fatigue after the Hull game coming hot on the heels after the Boro game and also factoring the travelling some of our players did on the international break. Cardiff also had a extra days preparation for this fixture. That said if we can produce the first 60 mins of the Boro performance we win the game simple. I would also resist the temptation to start Jota for this one.
I really can’t call this one. Wolves are good enough to pull out a big performance and win the game but as we’ve already seen they can also struggle when pressed hard and get overpowered. I think if we win we’ll almost certainly go on to win the league, lose and it’ll be squeaky bum time. Great this football lark ain’t it
Time to put Colin in his place, why has he got no eyebrows?
Is it because he is a bell end?
RIP Eric Bristow, “The Crafty Cockney”
Jota, Bonatini or Afobe to start with Costa and Cav up front?
As has been said already, Afobe plays on the shoulder of the last defender and Bonatini plays a lot deeper.
As far as this making Afobe easier to mark out of the game is concerned, I tend to disagree.
He has the pace to turn and lose any defender, and a Neves or Coady through ball can put him in on goal whereas Bonatini doesn’t, and will rarely be in a position to even attempt to get behind the defence.
So, for that reason, and with Jota not looking quite match fit, I would start with Afobe.
Saiss or Alf in midfield?
Given the rather robust nature of the Cardiff side, and Roman’s tired looking performance against Hull, I’d go with Alf.
Finally, we need a decent referee who doesn’t take any early nonsense from the Cardiff cloggers and recognises when someone is tripped. Is Mr Dean the man?
If he is I think we will get at least the draw we need.
I am worried about fatigue and our more recent tendency to concede goals. That said we certainly are capable of outplaying any team if at 100%.
I
So long as we don§t giveaway ridiculous penalties or concede own goals, I think we will be ok. I think the 3000 black and gold heroes travelling down to Cardiff will have a similarly enjoyable experience to the much loved play off final all those years ago.
Leave Miranda and Danny Boy at home, and give the central defender sub position to the lad with the new contract – he is the future. Defend deep early doors, dont concede and hit them with our pace on the break. I wish it was that simple of course, but why not another way win despite the occasion and the opposition.
We will blow Colin’s game plan out the water with 3 fust half goals. Comeback rarely threatened, 80th minute concellation for the bluebirds on our shoulder.
It’s in the stars ay it. We am gooing up say we am gooing up.
Part one of the final countdown starts…
So sorry that I couldn’t be in Cardiff for this one but I’m in Brentford territory, with a wedding to go to tomorrow and racing back to the Express Tavern to catch the game on Sky.
I’ll be over the moon if we win but happy with a draw.
A wedding?? Why?? Not at getting married, but not checking the fixture list first. Damned 8nconsiderate making you have to go to a wedding on a match day mate
My big concern about our team at the moment is their physical state. We play our #1 team most of the time and do not seem to rotate so much in heavily congested periods. Saiss said he was physically and mentally tired in the last game after the internationals. So why not leave him on bench ? We have a good back up squad. I hope all players will be fit and ready for tonight’s game.
As for a prediction, my heart says a win, my head says a loss.
Have been looking ahead to this game as a title clincher. The win over Borough was a great effort but they were a fringe team working their way out of a poor start to the season and had put in some great performances to get where they are. The two games that rule my thoughts ahead of Cardiff are the Vile and Fulham away and going on the performance against them, sadly I can not see us getting a result on Friday.
I’m getting everything wrong as far as predictions are concerned so hoping it continues. If we win this one it’s over and done with. The fat lady will be clearing her throat ready to burst forth in song.
Superstars against Borough or disappointments against Villa and Fulham? Perhaps somewhere in between? Will put the pessimistic glasses on (again) but hope for the better result that we really do deserve.
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2018/04/06/its-matchstick-molineux-pure-gold-as-wolves-fanatic-recreates-famous-ground/
Think this need to be in the museum – is Laurie watching ?
COYW
Wolves vs Cardiff
Top vs Second
Nuno vs Warnock
God vs anti-Christ
England vs Wales
Black Country vs Sheep Country
Stylish football vs Style-less football
Surely only one winner …..?
BRING IT ON!
(posted origionally by wolfinbristol)
Warnock is a master of gamesmanship from preparing the pitch to intimidating aggressive tactics,and in Bennett Morrison,Pattison they can leave their mark,on or off the ball.I have noticed in the last 2 games,that we don’t take contentious decisions against us very well.Resulting to indiscipline and momentary lack of concentration.My concern is that they come through this game,with no sending offs and injuries.It is not a cup final,and my cup is not half full,nor half empty but REFILLABLE.
Here’s hoping we don’t get injuries to any of our key players which could keep them out for our remaining games. It would be a shame if a rash tackle by a Cardiff player should influence the final destination of the league title in their favour. I have this picture in my mind of a particular incident in their game against Man City. Hopefully they’re above such nefarious tactics.
I think we will be kicked, pushed, shoved, punched and verbally abused.
On the pitch I think our players will suffer the same ‘welcome’.
Never mind though coz we are WOLVES and are made of sterner stuff and can overcome anything Warnock’s cloggers can throw at us.
It will be a night for dinosaur football versus the beautiful game. One team intent on long balls, ‘big’ men, knock-downs, long throws, set pieces and aggressive ‘in yer face’ tactics and the other playing a passing game, with movement, keeping possession and playing, well football!
Wolves to win. Warnock to moan and whinge a-la-Pulis.
OODCL
p.s. on a another note Ray Wilkins was 6 weeks older than me and Eric Bristow 6 months younger than me – it don’t half make you think!
Just seen that the referee is that attention-seeking idiot from the Premier League Mike ‘look at ME!’ Dean.
Gawd help us!
OODCL
The media building this up, but in the bigger picture its just another 3 point match. How many non-Wolves supporters remember (or care) that Mick’s team went up as champions ? Thats a bonus – the primary goal is promotion, for which we need 7 or 8 points and those will come anyway against the likes of Bolton, Blues, Sunderland and the Owls.
So the only interest I have in this game is to hopefully get revenge against Colin’s kickers. To be fair they have a decent side; if they didn’t they wouldn’t be on our coat-tails after the stellar season that we have enjoyed. From their perspective they’ll be looking over their shoulders at the Fulham steamroller, so I reckon a draw would probably suit both clubs.
No-one has taken 6 points off us this season.
And no-one will….. but it will be close with us scoring in the 91st and 94th minute.
If that happens, seeing Warnocks face would be priceless.
Well I nearly got it right, a pen save and a pen miss in injury time is close lol.
Still trying to decide if my nerves will take watching the match! I’m not a Warnock fan but he’s a manager that never lets his team quit till the final whistle & Cardiff will fight!
They’ve also had an extra days rest from our lads who were obviously feeling the effects of last fridays match. Seems that most teams ideas of dealing with the likes of Costa & Jota now is to floor them constantly (ignored by most refs as well!!).
Will take a draw. But would love a win.
COYW
To come away with a point will be an achievement. We need self discipline, more movement off the ball, less holding on to the ball and a quicker tempo than against Hull. A Hull performance will see us overrun; prove this doubter wrong Wolves!
Would love a win but will take a draw.
At least we have a decent ref tonight and should not get kicked off the park
They bullied us at Molineux and Nuno must not let that happen tonight. I would like to see big Alf in instead of Saiss to add a bit of muscle to midfield.
I will be more than happy with a draw tonight but will be wearing the lucky underpants to give us that extra shove towards the finishing line !! 🙂
And I will wear my lucky thong underwear, although I was planning to anyway because, you know, it’s Friday night and I want to get lucky.
OK cards on the table I hate Colin Warnock, just about more than anything in football including the Tesco lot from Sandwell. If there is one team I would love to humiliate embarrass, destroy and annihilate its Colin’s Cardiff side. For the manner of their victory at Molineux the cunning cheating, kicking, obstructing, and off the ball assaults I want nothing but a Clive-Nil victory.
But I just don’t see it happening exactly because of the above, they’ll do anything to beat us the playing of the game doesn’t matter to them they’ll cheat and dive and their fans will scream the place down claiming for anything they can get.
We just don’t seem to quite have the mental strength in the management team to let these injustices go and Nuno’s passion and aggression is then mirrored in the players also losing their heads and concentration.
I too fear a defeat here, but again think Villa could do us a favour next week and beat them at Villa Park, and then we will still be Champions as we deserve, but tonight I think will be difficult for all in Old Gold.
I hope I’m wrong, as does my personal attack wolf see below……..
Reminded me of our shepherd we lost him over 12 months ago riddled with the big C, best friend you could ever wish for and so intelligent
Hi Basher,
We lost our boy 3 years ago the best mate and friend we have had think about him every day.
Wolves Aye We.
Must be a Wolves thing as also looks a lot like our first shepherd, currently on our 3rd – total nut job! Lovely looking dog Amberwolf.
Time for these guys to get their game faces on and play like soldiers.
Bonantini has to be tough – he seems too nice.
I’m not worried about Jota because he seems to be a warrior.
Everyone else has to realize the importance of this game.
Be tough but don’t overreact to their physical behaviour because the referees always seem to catch the retaliation.
Cardiff, like Preston shocked the shit out of our lot in the first meeting, kicking our lads off the field and employing the dafk arts off the ball.
We’ve come a long way since then.
Wolves have since toughened up and can mix it with the best(?) of ’em now, so I don’t have that concern anymore.
If their legs aren’t gone after the Sheffield mud bath, they ain’t going to be too limber after 70 minutes. That should level them to our own flagging players after Boro.
I’d have awarded manager of the year to Warnock too, but only just. How he’s turned that team around on a shoestring is incredible. Nuno similarly turned Wolves around but Mendes’ involvement has a slight impact for me. That said, I know damn-well which team I’d rather watch.
Hopefully quality and magic will overcome brutal beligerance tonight but I won’t be counting any chickens; you don’t hunt Wolves down without considerable bloody-mindedness and they possess it in spades from the manager down.
I can’t wait for kick off. If you can’t get up for these games it’s time to pack it in!
We are Wolves! Let’s get into ’em and,…YOU know the rest!
UTW
We have been give a huge boost ahead of tonight’s match. My daughter will not be able to make it down to my house to watch the game. A big relief as she is a nailed on Jonah!! Saw us loose against Fulham and Villa. She was absent from the Bristol City match and the ‘Boro match = wins!
Feeling more confident now. 🙂
Nuno must keep his head in the face of deliberately provocative Cardiff behaviour. Never forget that Warnock was named in a parliamentary enquiry as a manager who asked for bungs to pick players. This happened at QPR. No coincidence then that Colin Wanker is an exact anagram for Neil Warnock.
Forget Bonatini tonight. If we go the conventional CF route, pick Afobe, he looks nastier. And for god’s sake I hope Ruddy is not busy or if he is, he plays a blinder. Warnock will have identified him as the weakest link and will use inappropriate physical tactics to intimidate him into errors.
In spite of a day’s less rest I think our superior footballing skills will prevail, assuming PL standards of refereeing. It’s very tiring not having the ball, let’s prove this tonight. Make them sweat. I’ve already predicted 2-1 to us but I think my post disappeared when sent.
“Cast your mind back ten years” so the lyrics went by The Move and their 1968 hit “Fire Brigade”.
Well fellow bloggers I am inviting you to cast your mind back nearly 63 years to 1st September 1955 for Wolves record away victory. The venue? Ninian Park, Cardiff… The score? 9 – 1.
The attendance that day in Cardiff was over 40,000 with Hancocks and Swinbourne both netting hat tricks, Broadbent grabbed a brace and Mullen the other.
The photograph below is of Swinbourne back-heeling the sixth goal. Oh for a similar result guys!
Amazingly we netted 7 vs Cardiff in September 1966 when Peter Knowles famously sat on the ball and invited the Cardiff team to try and retrieve it.
Cardiff City was formed in 1899 and joined the football league in 1920 and actually came second in the top flight 1923/24 season.
In 1927 Cardiff became the only club to take the FA cup out of England when they beat Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley in the “goalkeepers’ jersey” final. The Arsenal goalkeeper Lewis wore his jersey for the first time and he blamed the goal on the fibres being new and greasy as the ball slipped through his grasp into the net. Ever since then goalkeepers have apparently only ever worn washed kit….(Today’s useless bit of trivia).
The 1927 final was the first to be broadcast via radio, which coined the phrase “back to square one” as the Radio Times editors inserted a picture of a football pitch divided into 8 squares in that particular publication so the listeners could follow the game as the commentator referred to the square where the ball was being played which in turn coincided with the grid in the Radio Times – quite clever really.
It was also the first final where “abide with me “was sung before kick-off which is a tradition to this day. There was trouble before the game when police were called to quell Cardiff supporters who had been sold fake tickets. Blimey – nowt changes guys!
Amazingly by the quarter final stage Cardiff and Arsenal were the only two top flight teams remaining in the competition which I believe has never been repeated. In the semi-finals Cardiff faced Reading at Molineux in a tie which attracted nearly 40,000 spectators. The Welsh side won 3-0 in a canter.
In the head to head Wolves have won on 27 occasions, Cardiff 19 with 14 drawn games.
One fixture I remember particularly well occurred at Ninian Park in April 1977. Wolves were heading for promotion having been relegated the previous season. Two special trains departed Wolverhampton with around 1,200 on board and I travelled with Andy McCheyne (who later joined Wolverhampton Fire Service – wonder if he reads this blog). We were met by the usual Welsh welcoming committee at Ninian Park railway station, which was opened in 1929 for the specific purpose of transporting football fans to and from the game; typical 1970’s football violence.
Well the welcoming committee chucked all sorts of crap at Wolves fans exiting the station so we retaliated in kind before the local constabulary arrived to restore some semblance of order.
The game itself was all Wolves. Cardiff were in the relegation zone and we were top with Chelsea second. With just minutes to go we were coasting 2-0 with goals from Daley and Hibbitt when the defence inexplicably went to sleep and Cardiff scored twice to grab a point.
In the wider scheme of things it actually mattered not as Wolves finished in pole position and were promoted as champions.
Usual nonsense after the game as hundreds of Cardiff yobs tried to attack the Wolves yobs and the Wolves yobs attacked the Cardiff yobs with plod doing his best to keep the nutcases apart.
(In the sidings at Ninian Station was a line of wrecked carriages – the result of Chelsea fans as they had visited Cardiff a few weeks earlier).
Subsequent visits to both grounds have been along similar lines until fans were banned a few years ago.
If you are going have a good trip bloggers – or if like me you are behind the sofa at 7.45 – let us collectively implore the team to bring home the bacon.
I am forecasting 9-1 to Wolves in recognition of that wonderful Cullis team and equally to this wonderful Nuno team.
Have a great evening bloggers.
BOG
Hi Bog,
Remember that game in 1977 still got the programme great day brilliant blog as always thanks mate.
Cheers Dorset – what a game last night.
What an heart stopping finish in this most amazing of seasons.
Travelling up on Wednesday for the Derby fixture – depending on results today we could clinch promotion on Wednesday
All the best
BOG
We are the best team this league as ever seen and they will kick us off the park but wolves will still go up as champions. Utw and fowb
Just seen something that virtually guarantees a win tonight.
Warnock has won the Manager of the Month award !!!
The curse of MOTM must strike — Surely???
OODCL
3-0 up at halftime in Cardiff with Warnock sent off for being ugly ! Was that really 15 years ago ? Don’t think that will be the case tonight but after the season we have had so far you just don’t know with these lads. Hopefully Warnock’s award will come back and bite him on the arse like so often happens. If the award was because of his team being high up the table on limited resources then I think Neil Harris has done just as well if not better. Been to put a bet on the lads but only got 6/4 so did a double with my local club Lincoln City to win at Wembley on Sunday. Would love a win tonight, a draw would be good but even if we lose we are still going up as this IS the year.
Sort of game where Cardiff may well have a man sent off. Hope we can stay cool under the pressure.
COYW
Wolves 3 Cardiff 1 Wolves 3 Cardiff 1
A fresh Neves and Doc.
They will want to attone the Hull performance….
Neves…. to Afobe.
One nil.
WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU BOYS, DO US ALL PROUD…
England expects this day for every man to do his duty.
Come on Wolves!
OODCL
Not the most original comment, but a draw will suit me fine. However I’ve been predicting wins all season long, so why fix it if ain’t broken?
Happy with a point….if only to make it harder for the Vile……
Afobe & Leo in the starting line up …………..
Nev’ and the Doc’ to score and make amends for last Friday in a classic from the mighty Wolves.
Back from NZ this morning after 24 hour flight from Christchurch to Heathrow via Singapore. Jet lag ay gonna stop me from seeing Warnock’s contorted face being slapped thoroughly by the lads. Make no mistake a Wolves win is inevitable. How can sheep stop us. Not possible. 2-1.
Just getting settled ready to watch the game on TV. I’d like us to win – if only to make a statement – and I believe we have a good chance. As others have said, a draw would not be a disaster. I just hope that, whatever the result, the game isn’t ruined by the officials, but that they’ll do their job honestly and without fear or favour … and, above all, without seeming to want to become the main attraction.
Enjoy the game everyone. COYW
Two reasons to win:
1. Don’t get beaten twice in the season by Cardiff
2. To shut Warnock up
Really f#ucking nervous told everyone to get out of my way tonight little bit surprised by the front 3
Going for a score draw
No Cav………big surprise …!
Fucking A Baby Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh Gooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Come on me babies let do these cloggers..!
When they kick at your front door
How you gonna go
With your hands on your head?
or on the trigger of your gun?
They cant crush us they cant bruise us
[or send 2 of us off or give 2 pens against us!]
but you’ll have to answer to……
oh oh The guns of Nuno.
Super Wolves great team effort bring on derby, Nuno brill, Warnock angry say no more COYW
No nails left thought Middlesbrough was tense this was epic
I’ve had a shit week burst pipe from rad under floor has ruined the laminate flooring in the hall and living room and my insurance doesn’t cover it but do I care do I FUCK its going to cost me the best part of £700 to put riight but I’d have paid treble that no five times that for a result like tonight I’m couldn’t care less if all the pipes burst
( that’s not strictly true) but you know what I mean I now know how Argetinians felt when they beat England ” Neil your boys ( sloggers and kickers ) took a heeeelllllllll of a beating.
Love Nuno and the Boys the back room team Jeff…… And everyone connected to Fosun.
WELL SHAG ME BACKARDS WITH A RAGMANS TRUMPET !!!
I’M BLOODY SHATTERED
I haven’t posted on here since #sexistphotosgate but friggin Hell….
Wow! Just speechless. Might as well have another pint.
Me and my daughter Border Wolf have had a combined high blood pressure of the scale tonight. Who gives a shit the look on Warnock face was priceless
Just listened to Warnock re Nuno. What a complete arsehole and wanker. Nuno apologised and Warnock acted as usual. Complete pratt
The look on Colin’s face at the end has made my season.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice quiet uneventful match again….jolly well played, Wolves…
Friday night is always a good night on the box for comedy.
I missed it all to watch the match.
But I did hear the best joke in years……
Niel Warnock accusing someone else of lacking class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im still laughing.
Fecking hell. What a game. Thought we had dropped 2 well earned points, but …. what a result.
Seeing Warnocks face …. awesome.
Just spoke to Stu on the phone ….. he is getting pissed.
Bring on Derby.
A Ruddy good show!
We were just Ruben their noses in it.
Brilliant Mark. Ruddy proved his selection for the season team with that save alone lol.
Well.
Awesome just fekin awesome.
Best away games have both been in Carduff
Have both had Colin sucking lemons with sea salt in his eyes
Now on coach on way home, lovin life & finally the football dogs have spoken.
WHAT A CLUB, COACH, TEAM, 12th MAN
The battle of Boro has just been eclipsed by the Capitulation of Colin in Carduff
FEKIN PROPER WOLVES AY WE
PS anyone have any Ramapril that I could pinch.
If Warnock had two injury time pens awarded against his team he’d have showed his class alright! Hahahahahahaha!
Hahahahahahahahaha! ?
If Warnock had two injury time pens awarded against his team he’d have showed his class alright! Hahahahahahaha!
Hahahahahahahahaha! ?
If Warnock had two injury time pens awarded against his team he’d have showed his class alright! Hahahahahahaha!
Hahahahahahahahaha! ?
If Warnock had two injury time pens awarded against his team he’d have showed his class alright! Hahahahahahaha!
Hahahahahahahahaha! ?
Just as I thought my huge grin couldn’t get any bigger my lad Daryl in Dubai just sent me this picture of my 7 month old grandson Stanley with the following caption:
“Stanley listening to Warnock making his excuses”.
Now THAT’S class.
OODCL
Going for a lay down what a game poor old plastic face he really is a bad loser.
Nuno had a dream my god l am so proud to be a Wolves fan.
Have a good weekend fellow bloggers,
You couldn’t get this shit eating grin off my face with a hammer and chisel.
What a team, what a manager, what a season, what a time to be a Wolf!
Did Colin shake the Wolves players’ hands? You’d be mad too if your players missed two penalties in the span of a couple of minutes.
I was screaming at the T.V. at half-time for Nuno to bring on Cav and Costa for Leo and Jota who were both having a mare. When he did, albeit later on, we looked the better side after a shocking first half by both teams. Another brilliant goal by Ruben, but who saw that last five minutes coming…?
I reckon it was all part of the plan mate, to bring those 2 on later when the taffs were tiring
Manager of the season shows his true class at the end.
You couldn’t make this shit up!!
I think I’m a prophet.
Got 16/1 Ruben Neves to score the only goal….
£50 better off but promotion guaranteed now as far as I’m concerned…..
So we left the ground and went to the pub by our hotel, Twix, Mrs Twix Jenny and me, there was a trio playing guitars, we ordered a couple of rounds and the group only strike up with Hi Ho Feckin Silver lining. Well it would have been rude not to sing along, and sing along we bloody well did.
A Cardiff fan and his girl came over and they made the day complete, a young couple but two of the nicest guys we could have asked for to join us. Well done Dan Bird and Dan’s Bird. Both of them admitted we played them off the park.
He’s coming on the blog when he’s sober, so be nice to him, a really nice bloke.
Bring on the Derby.
Bring on the Derby, hoo argh.
Nuno, you lack class, but you make up for it in Passion by the bucket load.
OMFG! Still not come down off the ceiling!
Can we play every away match on a Friday night, please?
Wow! You can’t make this stuff up. Neves wonder goal and a best performance in a Wolves shirt from Afobi, didn’t think he had it in him, more of the same please Benik. Then Ruddy heroics bloody fantastic. Can’t wait to read what Mikey has to say. C O Y M W .
“I thought it was a cracking game between the two top sides in the division,” said Warnock . . . .
No Colin, THE top side were playing Cardiff, not Fulham! Think again!!
What a match! What passion!! What a goal!!!! If that was in the goal of the season it had my vote (I voted for his other one).
My nerves couldn’t take it, I was told to calm down, sit down, stop jigging, stop panicking, breathe!! Thankfully Tipton Exile phoned to say calm down as I was watching on the iPad & it’s about 3 mins behind live play!
Ok so Nuno showed his passion & didn’t shake hands immediately, Colin showed his true manners by telling everyone to F off on live TV & refusing the given apology. I felt for Cardiff & the fans but not the excuse of a manager.
We Are Wolves!!!!
So according to the so-called manager of Cardiff his so-called team more than held their so-called own against the “so-called best team in the Championship”.
Well me miserable sour faced old moron we are ‘so-called’ the best because WE ARE!
And if your team of hoofers, hopers, cloggers and assorted journeymen really had ‘more than held their own’ you wouldn’t have lost would you? Which you did. You lost.
Warnock. No class, no style, no fair play, no sportsmanship, no integrity. An utter and total disgrace.
Five games to go – five wins? 100 points anyone?
OODCL
I now want Fulham to win all their games and for Cardiff to move down to the play offs , get to the final and then lose 3-0. Now that woild really really make me happy.
See you on the 28th buddy.
Lose 3-0 in the playoff final? Even better, I’d like them to lose in the penalty shoot-out. See how they like taking penalties when the other team has some to take as well. They’d bottle and the Poison Dwarf Warnock would stomp all round Wembley, incandescent with rage. We’d hear so much effing swearing.
Gentlemen go out there and break Steve bulls legs Warnock me thinks not. Ray Wilkins was a gentleman your just a bad loser
Good to hear Colin apologise for last night’s shenanigans on Talk Shite earlier.
Just goes to prove that two wrongs DO make a right, after all.
Still grinning stupidly after last night….
UTW
Oh dear Brucie. Vllla just lost 3-1 at Norwich. MIND THE GAP. now 16 points behind us. With 5 games to go, they can’t catch us…
No apologies for recalling that bung story about the Poison Dwarf, the class act himself, drum roll for Neil Warnock. Here is a link:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/cardiff-city-manager-neil-warnock-9062850
In my native Ireland he would be called a gobshite.
And in Wolverhampton a “fekin Bell-end”
Easy peasy
Just putting it out there, I like Neil Warnock, there I’ve said it , don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t like him at wolves but I like having him around a bit like your inappropriate old uncle, he pisses people off but I just find him funny and I think a few more of us will miss him more than we think when he’s gone ! I’m certainly going to enjoy watching the wind up and scrap of the remaining games for those below us ,
Now , win the league title at home to blues anyone?
Loving this season, jumping around the settee at 4 30 am !
These are the days
Utw
I can’t get this stupid inane grin off my chops! I, also find Warnock’s antics funny on one level and totally repellent of course. Heard him backtracking on Talksport earlier, having made himself look very silly. Celebrate, Nuno, but quickly shake hands first; give them no ammo for the mind games…
I thought it was a very smart move to keep Cav and Helder back as it probably saved them from a good kicking and we have more games to play in the next week, where they may have more room to display their talentss, fair play to Cardiff in the respect that their physical strength and attitude warrants a different strategy to normal games; they can be very effective. I would have gone one further and played N’Diaye up front for this game, but Leo has earned a chance from his initial input to our season.What has gone wrong there? You can still see flashes of his undoubted ability but somethings not quite right…
Am travelling up to see the next two games having missed a couple due to my good lady’s health problems.
Feeling good but think next season will be somewhat more testing than many others seem to assume. Some of our lads will benefit from having fewer games to drain them mentally as well as physically during the two games a week onslaught the Championship entails…imo.
Nuno made a good point when talking to Sky after the game. When the guy pointed out what Mr. Wanker said and implied, that he doesn’t know how to behave in the rarefied air of the Championship, he simply pointed out that he had coached in the Champions League and implied that he was not some rube from some small country who’s never been anywhere else.
How many seasons has Colin coached in the Champions League?