Molineux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers based in the West Midlands and compete in the Premier League. Nicknamed the “Wolves” as it’s in the name “Wolverhampton”. The League Cup is back!! Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur in the Third Round of the Cup at Molineux! Bring it on!! The Super Stag, Tom and Fez, my good friends from Mansfield Town, will be making the trip down to the West Midlands for this one!!
Work has done and now off to Birmingham New Street… On a week night!? You bet!! Here I am and now off to Wolverhampton I go! Now for the walk to the ground! Not a bad walk to the ground I have to say!
£18 for this League Cup tie! How about that!! The Super Stag, Tom and Fez have arrived and kick off looms closer! But first a definite first for me as we are treated to a fire display to the tune of ‘All of the Lights’ By Kanye West. Fantastic!
Out come the players! It’s time!! A first time for me watching Tottenham! A first time for me seeing Harry Kane live! But for now we must remember the late great former England and Tottenham Striker Jimmy Greaves with a minutes applause. RIP to one of Football’s Greatest!
“AND IT’S HI HO WOLVERHAMPTON!!” Fantastic from the Wolves fans! “We are Tottenham Super Tottenham! We are Tottenham from the Lane!” The atmosphere is building fast! Kick Off! “Oh when the Spurs go marching in” but here come the Wolves fans! “OH WHEN THE WOLVES GO MARCHING IN! I WANNA BE IN THAT NUMBER! OH WHEN THE WOLVES GO MARCHING IN!” Wolves fans responded well there!
“Steve Bull!” Clap clap clap! An early injury to Yerson Mosquera sees play stopped… “Harry Kane! He’s won you f*** all!” And “Harry Kane! He wants to f*** off!” How will the Spurs fans respond? “Nuno Santo! He left cause you’re s***!” Who won that one then? Conor Coady comes on and the game continues.
14 minutes in and Tottenham play forward but Wolves win it back and play it to Conor Coady to clear… Oh no! He’s played it straight at Tanguy Ndombele and he drives into the box, he turns inside and shoots… He’s scored! Tottenham have the lead! A cool calm finish there by Ndombele and Coady lives the rue that attempted clearance there… 0-1!
“Wolverhampton Wanderers! Wolverhampton Wanderers!” Wolves fans get behind their team still! “Oh when the Spurs go marching in!” Spurs fans enjoying the lead! 23 minutes now and Tottenham play forward from the back, it’s given away in midfield but it’s a poor touch and Tottenham get it back, a good move there and it’s played through to Harry Kane and he’s through on goal… You know what comes next… It is!! He was never going to miss was he? Harry Kane for Tottenham again with a 1 on 1!! 0-2!! Tottenham looking really comfortable here!
Wolves are playing a dangerous game here with repeated misplaced passes and the fans are not happy! I wouldn’t be neither… Well I’m not!! “Is this the Emirates!? Is this the Emirates!?” Spurs fans rubbing it in a bit now… 26th minute and Tottenham break forward again, Harry Kane has it now and he plays it out to the left, it’s played into the box for Bryan Gil, danger here… He plays it across to Dele Alli, he’s around the keeper here… He can’t get the ball under control and he slips and it’s just out for a goal kick… Wolves need to wake up here!
Wolves starting to show a bit more fight now but Spurs still pose a big danger on the break. 38 minutes on the clock and Wolves have a corner, in it comes… Leander Dendoncker with the header!! It’s in!!!! 1-2!! Just like that and Wolves are back in it!! “Come on Wanderers!” Wolves fans are back in it!! Game on!!
1 minute later and here come Wolves again, the Wolf has woken!! They come forward down the left, crossed over to Hoever on the right and he fires it in… It comes for Fabio Silva!! He doesn’t get enough on it and Tottenham clear but only to Ruben Neves, Wolves work it around the Tottenham box but play another poor pass and Tottenham have a throw in… Big chance for Fabio Silva there!
Right on half time now and Wolves have a corner again, whipped in… The header! Blocked! Wolves retrieve it and play it out to the left, crossed in first time, in towards Hwang… He’s put the header over! Big chance there! At half time, Spurs remain 2-1 to the good.
Second half, Wolves bring on Adama Traore much to the delight of the home crowd! “AAAAADAMA TRAORE!” 1 minute into the second half and Wolves play forward down the right hand side, it comes to Hoever and he gets the better of Davinson Sanchez and he drives into the box, he plays it across to Hwang!! OOOOHHH! He’s put it over… Massive chance there for the equaliser!
52nd minute and Tottenham have a free kick on the Wolves half, it’s taken and it comes to Dele Alli on the edge of the box, he plays it in to Harry Kane and he beats John Ruddy to it… He turns and shoots… Ruddy gets to it but it’s loose in the box… Wolves get there and clear.
59 minutes now and Tottenham have the ball in their own half… They lose it and Wolves press forward with Dendoncker, he plays it to Daniel Podence and he’s in… HE’S DONE IT!!!! 2-2!! AND MOLINEUX GOES CRAZY!!!! Wolves have certainly come out fighting after that poor start and it’s anyone’s game now!! “Who are ya!?” To the Tottenham fans from the Wolves end now!
60th minute and Tottenham come forward with Harry Kane, he plays it out wide to the right for Dele Alli, he plays it in low for Bryan Gil who slides in… Brilliant save there by Ruddy! And Wolves clear the danger. 66 minutes on the clock now and Tottenham play down the left wing with Heung Min Son, he crosses in towards Harry Kane… OH! Another brilliant strong hand there from Ruddy! When Kane looked certain to score! It is a corner for Tottenham, it’s crossed in… Wolves clear.
The game has calmed down an awful lot now and Penalties looks more and more likely. 87th minute and Wolves play into the Tottenham half, a cross comes in from the right, headed away by Tottenham but only to Ruben Neves 25 yards out, “SHOOT!” Shout the Wolves fans! He does shoot… Deflected… OH! It’s off the top of the bar!! So close! Corner for Wolves, played short, crossed in… All the way out… Wasted!
89th minute and Wolves win a free kick in a good position around 30 yards out, Ruben Neves steps up… Deflected… Just over the bar! Another corner for Wolves, whipped in… Headed away by Tottenham. Wolves continue to press for the winner, but the game will be going to Penalties.
Wolves will take first with Hwang… Keeper gets a hand to it but he scores! 1-0! Harry Kane first for Tottenham… He was never going to miss! 1-1! Joao Moutinho is next for Wolves… He scores! 2-1! Sergio Reguilon is next… 2-2! Ruben Neves is next for Wolves… OH NO! He’s blazed it over! Bryan Gil to give Spurs an advantage… Brilliant Penalty! 2-3! Dendoncker is next for Wolves… Saved! Spurs are at Match Point and it’s Hojbjerg to win it… Saved! It’s not won yet! Conor Coady has to score for Wolves… He’s hit the bar… It’s all over! Tottenham are through! Wolves are OUT!
FT: Wolves 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Tottenham win 3-2 on Penalties)
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 8/10 – Fantastic from both sets of fans but the Wolves fans I thought were the better on the night! Especially when that second goal went in!!
- The Ground: 9/10 – It’s a great ground and I love it!! Very unique how the long stands are built and it is a proper football ground! My only criticism is the restricted views from the top tier behind the goal… Would have been a 10 otherwise!
- Expense: 10/10 – £18 for all of that!! A decent fixture with goals and drama and Penalties! Fantastic!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – I had a really good time and I’m glad we all made the trip!! Would have loved to have seen Wolves win it at the end though…
36/40