Wolves have got Wright stuff – but Villa must show cup form in league
MY old boss, the late, great Wolves and England legend Billy Wright, would have loved watching the progress of his beloved club, while down the road the region’s biggest club, Aston Villa, may have reached Wembley again but they are making hard work of avoiding relegation.
Tonight, across the Second City, I take in-form League One Coventry City to beat Championship Birmingham City in their FA Cup fourthround replay.
Billy played 21 years for the Wolves and 105 times for England. He was captain of both.
On his retirement as ATV’s Controller of Sport in 1989, he became a director at Molineux. He died in 1994, aged 70.
Another Wolves legend, John Richards, and myself, were on the Billy Wright statue committee and argued hard to have it outside the main entrance. The others wanted it at the Mander shopping area! Now I am glad to say it’s a reminder of those great days.
Billy would be proud that Wolves, with so many exciting players and a top manager, are currently eighth in the Premier League and just six points off a Champions League spot.
Wolves are also in the Europa League round of 32 – at home to Spanish club Espanyol on February 20 (8pm), before being away the following week on February 27 (5.55pm). Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have every chance.
They have lost six league matches from 25 to date, although Saturday’s disciplined 0-0 draw at Manchester United was their first clean sheet for ten matches.
Like the impressive Sheffield United, who are two places higher, Wolves play three at the back with attacking wing-backs. It is working for both clubs.
Wolves have had a tough schedule since the Europa League third qualifying round on August 8, but they are coping well... now they have a break
The Billy Wright statue at Molineux and, inset, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo. Right, Villa’s Jack Grealish against Bournemouth until they host Leicester City in the Premier League on Friday week (8pm on BT Sport).
Leicester, meanwhile, are aggrieved they were not awarded a penalty in the 2-1 Carabao Cup loss at Villa Park.
Villa won the semi-final 3-2 on aggregate. The Villa midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba, appeared to handle a firsthalf shot from James Maddison.
Referee Mike Dean did not award it and it was not overruled by VAR’s Lee Mason. TV replays suggested otherwise!
Anyway, that’s life, and it’s Villa who will play in the final against the holders, Manchester City, on Sunday March 1 (4.30pm) – the third successive season both clubs have reached Wembley. Manchester City, who will be favourites, are looking for a hat-trick of Wembley wins in this competition. However, you never know on the day. I did not think Villa would beat Leicester over two legs but they did.
Yet they did not win a ‘must-have’ three points against the ten-man fellow strugglers of Bournemouth, despite the regular brilliance of captain Jack Grealish. They are still dicing with relegation.
Four clubs have won the League Cup and then been relegated, including Birmingham City. Villa certainly do not want to be the fifth.
Grealish is the most fouled player in the Premier League and he is such an influence.
He was clearly thrilled to reach Wembley again when he arrived in the Grealish family box after the semi-final.
I was the guest of Jack’s dad Kevin and mother Karen. A lovely family and, although I am a lifetime Leicester City supporter, I was pleased for them. Kevin and Karen shared the driving so I was able to console myself with a couple of glasses of red wine!
The pitch invasion concerned me and was frightening for some of the Leicester players. I was surprised Dean Smith defended it as an outpouring of emotion. Despite repeated warnings, the fans did not leave.
Last season, a spectator attacked Grealish during the Blues-Villa match at St Andrew’s and was rightly dealt with and punished. Grealish was all right but it could have been worse. The Villa pitch invasion finished okay. Of course the match was over but visiting players were vulnerable.
Spectators are not allowed on the pitch at ANY time, for good reason.
Of course, it’s good that the West Midlands has a team at Wembley again.
In the FA Cup, Villa were the last finalists – losing 1-0 to Chelsea in 2000 and Arsenal 4-0 in 2015.
Tonight, Coventry City, the last to win it back in 1987, are ‘away’ to Birmingham City in the fourth-round replay at the ‘shared’ St Andrew’s stadium.
Ten days ago, when Coventry were drawn as the home team, the game finished 0-0, although Villa loanee Callum O’Hare missed a sitter for the Sky Blues near the end!
The crowd may not be as big this time, but it will be competitive. Coventry have not lost their last ten matches – seven in League One – while Birmingham had struggled at home until Saturday’s excellent win over Nottingham Forest. Tonight’s winners will be away to Leicester.
Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion got back to winning ways on Saturday and await a home tie against the winners of tonight’s replay between Oxford United and Newcastle.
Billy would be proud that Wolves are currently eighth in the Premier League and just six points off a Champions League spot.