Derby 1 `Lucky` Wolves 4

Turning Point.
By Scott Cooper
August 25 2002

Wolverhampton Wanderers sent a strong message to the rest of the Nationwide on Saturday after smashing Four goals past other Promotion favourites Derby County.

This was going to be the first real test for the Gold And Black Army as 4000 fans packed the South Stand at Pride Park Stadium.

Jones made Two changes from the team who beat Burnley last weekend with Ince replacing the injured Cameron and Sturridge replacing Kenny Miller who sat on the bench.

The game was put back to a 3.15 Kick Off due to traffic problems and before the game Kicked Off a minutes silence was held for the deaths of Holly Wells and Jessica Champman.

It was Derby who started brightest forcing and early corner, which thankfully came to nothing. The game then became scrappy before Wolves struck on 19 minutes with thanks to Wolves` star man Alex Rae. Shaun Newton directed his header back across goal and the Scotish Midfielder swept the ball home from around 10 yards.

Wolves then got to grips with the game as chances came. Blake fired his fierce effort into his own man Sturridge who laid the ball back to the Welsh International who blazed over from 18 yards.

Branko Strupar hit the Woodwork from a Free-Kick after Lescott had committed a foul on the edge of his area.

Wolves once again had a chance in the form of Iva Ingimarsson and Irwin had a Free Kick tipped over by Oakes in the Derby goal however it was the Rams who would strike back in the 3rd minute of Injury Time.

Christie sweetly knocked the ball past Michael Oakes after Twiggs Free-Kick found the England U 21 star.

H.T 1-1

The Second half started as the first did with Derby having the best of the spell and coming close to taking the lead on a few occasions however it was Paul Ince`s replacement Kevin Cooper who struck gold for Wolves.

His 25yrd effort took a deflection off Barton and shot into the Top Right corner of the net. Wolves fans behind the goal went mad and at 2-1 were not expecting the flurry of goals which were to come.

Derby let their heads drop as Alex Rae scored his Second of the game 3 Minutes from time. A fantastic 35yrd left-footed volley was greeted by great applause and Celebration from the Wolves fans as the Derby Faithful poured out of Pride Park.

It was Kenny Miller who had replaced Sturridge earlier in the game who grabbed Wolves` fourth of the game. Blake made a winding run into the box and his cross deflected off Oakes in the Rams goal for Kenny Miller to smash home from close range.

The fans behind the goal were now in dreamland as chants of “easy easy easy” greeted the remaining Derby fans who were now streaming out of the ground.

The title of this piece relates to the Derby County view of the game. They believed Wolves` were “lucky” to score four goals passed their beloved team.

Well Derby, your in for a shock, Wolves are top of the Nationwide and next time you score four goals, we will be sure to remind you of how lucky you have been.

Final Score from Pride Park:

Derby 1 Wolves 4