Wolves 1, Arsenal 4: Bill Howell's big match verdict
TO GO against the grain, to buck the trend, to reverse history.
As Benjamin Disraeli pointed out, there are ‘lies, damned lies and statistics’.
The ‘lies’ were Mick McCarthy’s in suggesting that Arsene Wenger ‘must be quaking in his boots’ in taking the trip to Molineux.
The statistics?
The last time Wolves were beaten at home by Arsenal and managed to avoid the drop, Tom Baker was waving goodbye as the fourth Doctor Who.
Dangermouse was beginning his battle with the evil Baron Greenback, filmgoers were glued to Chariots of Fire, An American Werewolf in London and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Ruth Madoc was making TV audiences giggle in Hi De Hi and Bucks Fizz were Making their Minds Up at the top of the charts.
The last time Arsenal were at Molineux, they were top of the pile and Wolves were second-bottom. They went down.
The time before that, Wolves were second-bottom and went down.
The time before that? Wolves were third from bottom and Mel Eves was on target in a 1-1 draw in front of barely 11,500 folk. Wolves went down.
It was April 1981, John Richards was on target in a 2-1 defeat. Wolves were 17th against Arsenal in fifth.
By the middle of May, Wolves had stayed up in 18th, two points clear of poor Norwich.
Whether history can repeat itself remains to be seen. The continuing strife of Hull City and Portsmouth can only help.
Wolves will not be relegated by losing to the top four. It is those battles on the horizon with Blues and Bolton which will begin to shape their destiny.
And if you want positive omens? David Tennant is just about to wave cheerio as Doctor Who like Baker, 28 years and six Doctors before him.
To be fair to McCarthy and to Wolves, they gave it a go until poor defending and ill fortune combined on two occasions to hand them a mountain to climb.
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