BULLY’S 4-GOAL GIFT FOR SANTA

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EVER wondered what Santa does to unwind after Christmas ?

On New Year’s Day, 1990, he was spotted at Birmingham airport catching a flight to Newcastle, along with several snowmen and a Mexican.

They were all Wolves supporters in fancy dress on their way to what the excitable Wolverhampton Express and Star reporter would afterwards describe as “one of the most famous victories in the club’s history.”

The best either side could hope for was a shot at a play-off place in the second tier – and Wolves had no chance of achieving that unless their star striker rediscovered his scoring touch.

Only one goal in four games was most unlike Steve Bull (above) and he silenced his doubters with one of the best displays of his Wolves career.

The other Wolves hero to those who flew up to the match on eight chartered planes was at the other end of the pitch.

Keeper Mark Kendall kept the scoreline blank at half-time by getting a hand to Mick Quinn’s spot kick and it was a different Wolves side who ran out on to the St James’ Park pitch for the second half.

Within 13 minutes of the restart they were 3-0 up – and Bull had another match ball for his collection. His opener owed much to the doziness of Newcastle defender Bjorn Kristensen.

The Dane lost control of the ball inside the penalty area, allowing Paul Cook to roll the ball into Bull’s path and he bundled in the opener.

Newcastle’s defence were undone again six minutes later and Bull completed a nine-minute hat-trick.

Kevin Brock curled in a 73rd minute free-kick to give the home crowd hope, but three minutes later Robbie Dennison’s perfectly-weighted throughball allowed Bull to bag his fourth.