LEGEND: RECALL ’74 WIN

WOLVES legend Gary Pierce thinks current Molineux keeper Rui Patricio will have it easier against Manchester City than he once did.

It’s almost 45 years since Pierce spent his 23rd birthday keeping another rampant City team at bay to help Wolves lift the League Cup.

And, as he looked back on his man-of-the-match performance in a 2-1 victory, he tipped the club’s Class of 2019 to bring back the glory days.

“City have a great team at the moment, but I’d rather face Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling than the forward line they had at Wembley back in 1974,” said Pierce.

“They had Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee, three players who helped them win the league, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

“They had Rodney Marsh, a brilliant player. And they also had the incomparable Denis Law.

“But, at Wolves, we had a team spirit that was unbreakable – and we also had unbelievable luck.”

Anyone at Wembley that day will know Pierce is underselling himself.

Called into the team by Wolves boss Bill McGarry when No.1 keeper Phil Parkes was injured, he was only told 48 hours before the final that he was playing.

When Kenny Hibbitt gave Wolves the lead just before half-time, it didn’t truly reflect their dominance.

One Pierce save from a Marsh free-kick had brought the mercurial England forward to his knees.

But it was his heroics in the second half that won the cup.

Bell equalised – only for John Richards to bag a Wolves winner.

Pierce said: “It was the save I made from Rodney that really settled me down. It was one of those days when you feel like you’re not going to be beaten,”

Of the current Premier League teams, Pierce added: “It’s a great time to be a City fan – but there are also exciting times ahead for my old club as well.

“I went to Molineux when they drew with City earlier in the season and they were very impressive.

“Beating Liverpool in the FA Cup was a huge result for them and it would be great to see them back at Wembley. It’s been too long.”