Wolves v Aston Villa, 24th October 1981

Highlights of a First Division local derby between Wolves and Aston Villa at Molineux on 24th October 1981.

The opening to the 1981-82 season began well for Wolves with a 1-0 home defeat of Liverpool. However, a run of just one win in seven games followed and, ahead of their match against Ipswich Town, Wolves were languishing in 21st place in the First Division. Despondency and dissatisfaction amongst Wolves fans had steadily increased, with dissent on the terraces and demonstrations against chairman Harry Marshall soon to follow. Crowds had fallen significantly, with just 11,594 in attendance at Molineux for a rare win against Notts County on 26th September. Against Villa, the sub-20,000 crowd was the lowest at Molineux for a Wolves-Aston Villa fixture since 1904.

With finances at the club greatly impacted following the completion of a new stand at Molineux, there had been little investment in the Wolves team for a couple of seasons. Despite a lowly 18th finish in the league the previous season, Wolves failed to significantly strengthen an ageing and declining team. Just two players were added to John Barnwell's squad in the close season: centre-half Joe Gallagher, a £350,000 signing from Birmingham City, and winger Alan Birch, a £180,000 capture from Chesterfield. Both players had been signed following the collapse in transfers of PSV Eindhonen's René van de Kerkhof and Ally McCoist from St Johnstone and were included in Barnwell's team to face Villa.

With uncertainty over his future at Molineux increasing, Barnwell's problems were further compounded through the absence of midfielder Kenny Hibbitt and striker Andy Gray. With John Richards as substitute, the Wolves manager selected Mel Eves at centre-forward, partnered Colin Brazier and Mick Matthews together in the centre of midfield and Willie Carr vacated his usual position in the centre for that of left midfield.

Reigning First Division champions Aston Villa, in contrast to Wolves' misfortunes, had lost just twice prior to their match at Molineux. Their relatively lowly position of 13th in the league at that point was due to a predominance of draws (six in total) and their ultimate finish of 11th at the end of the campaign proved to be a disappointment for such a strong Villa team. However, there's little doubt that their league form suffered as a result of their ultimately successful campaign in the European Cup.

Originally broadcast by BBC Match of the Day with commentary by John Motson.