WOLVES RECORD THIS SEASON:
Wolves 2 Southend 1 (After extra-time) CARLING CUP
Everton 1 Wolves 1
Wolves 2 Stoke 1
LAST GAME ... WOLVES 2 SOUTHEND 1
Hennessey, Zubar, Batth, Stearman, Elokobi, Halford, Guedioura, Edwards (Foley 91), Milijas, Winnall (Doyle 70), Hemmings (Ebanks-Blake 70). Subs Not Used: Ikeme, Berra, Davis, Malone.
Richard Stearman struck in the final minute of extra-time to give Wolves victory over Southend in the Carling Cup second round.
Wanderers took the lead through Nenad Milijas' first-half penalty after Sam Winnall was fouled by Chris Barker.
Shrimpers captain Craig Easton pulled back a deserved equaliser for the npower League Two outfit in the 80th minute, but Stearman had the final say deep into stoppage time at the end of the additional periods.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy made 10 adjustments to the team which drew 1-1 at Everton in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, with teenagers Winnall and Danny Batth handed their senior debuts for the Black Country club, Ashley Hemmings given his first start and Stearman named as captain.
Southend settled more quickly in a scrappy opening and had the first attempt on goal after 10 minutes, with Easton sending a volley over the bar.
Moments later Anthony Grant dispossessed Adlene Guediora and won a free-kick in a useful-looking position, but Sofiene Zaaboub swung it wide of the target.
At the other end, a scramble in the box ended with Greg Halford hitting an acrobatic effort which did little to trouble Shrimpers goalkeeper Glenn Morris.
The visitors were then awarded another free-kick just outside the area which was laid off to Grant, but the midfielder's low strike was deflected over.
Wolves had offered little, but all of a sudden found themselves a goal up thanks to a surging run from Winnall.
The 19-year-old broke into the box in the 27th minute and stepped over the ball several times before being brought down by Barker.
Referee Colin Webster pointed to the spot and Milijas stepped up to convert the penalty, rifling it powerfully to Morris' right.
Southend almost found an instant response, but Bilel Mohsni headed wide from Peter Gilbert's free-kick when he really should have hit the target.
The Tunisian had the ball in the net soon after only to be waved offside, before Sean Clohessy hit a weak effort that Wayne Hennessey collected comfortably.
Halford's long throw caused some problems in the Shrimpers area just before the break, but Morris dived on the ball.
Southend looked to pick up where they had left off as the second half got under way and Barry Corr twisted and turned in the box before unleashing a shot that Hennessey got down to save.
But Wolves came back strongly with a succession of attempts on goal, first from Winnall and then Hemmings.
Milijas was next up, hitting a hopeful effort high and wide, before Winnall connected well with Hemmings' cross but could not guide the ball on target.
Ronald Zubar then had a shot saved by Morris, but Southend were not out of the game and Blair Sturrock, son of the manager Paul, gave a reminder of that with a little under 20 minutes remaining by firing an attempt against the crossbar.
McCarthy made a double substitution in the 70th minute in an attempt to finish the job off, bringing on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who had netted against Everton, and last season's top-scorer Kevin Doyle for Hemmings and Winnall respectively.
But with 10 minutes to go, Southend snatched an equaliser as Easton stooped low to head Josh Simpson's cross past Hennessey.
Ebanks-Blake slotted home a close-range effort two minutes later, only to see the referee's assistant raise his flag to rule the strike out.
Having survived that scare, the Shrimpers sensed the opportunity to pull off a shock and play moved back into the Wolves half, but Mohsni was unable to keep his header down from a corner and Webster blew the whistle to confirm the need for extra-time.
The hosts had the better of the first additional period and looked to have regained the lead when Ebanks-Blake tapped the ball in after Milijas' shot had deflected on to the post, but again the striker was denied by the flag for offside.
Simpson blew a great chance to win it for Southend with seconds remaining, lifting a shot into the arms of Hennessey after substitute Louis Soares had squared it to him.
And it proved to be costly, as moments later Stearman bundled Zubar's cross over the line to give Wolves a last-gasp victory.
PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES
Saturday 28th August 2010
Blackburn v Arsenal 12.45
Blackpool v Fulham 15.00
Chelsea v Stoke City 15.00
Man Utd v West Ham 17.30
Tottenham v Wigan Athletic 15.00
Wolves v Newcastle 15.00
Sunday 29th August 2010
Aston Villa v Everton 16.00
Bolton v Birmingham 13.30
Liverpool v West Brom 15.00
Sunderland v Man City 15.00
MOLINEUX - WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Directions & Car Parking
From The South:
Leave the M6 at Junction 10 and take the A454 towards Wolverhampton. Continue to follow the A454 right into Wolverhampton (be wary of speed cameras on the A454). On reaching the traffic island that intersects with the ring road, turn right. As you approach the 2nd set of lights look for the signs for football parking. The ground is over the 2nd set of lights on the right. Alternatively if you turn left into the city centre you may find a space in one of the many council run 'pay & display' car parks. The Civic Hall car park, normally remains open for night matches.
From The North:
Leave the M6 at Junction 12 and take the A5 towards Telford and then turn onto the A449 towards Wolverhampton. On reaching the traffic island that intersects with the ring road, turn right. Then as South.
By Train
The ground is walkable from the train station in the centre of city (15 minutes). Leave the station and proceed straight on towards the town centre and as you reach the inner ring road turn right. Just follow the ring road as it continues in a circular pattern around to the left. Eventually you will see the Molineux on the right.
Away Fans
Away fans are housed in the lower tier of the Steve Bull Stand which runs along the side of the pitch. Up to 3,200 away supporters can be accommodated in this area. Fans are sat quite far back from the playing area, which gives the illusion that the pitch is larger than at most other grounds. Musical delights at the ground include just before kick off, 'Hi, Ho, Silver Lining' with the crowd singing 'Hi, Ho, Wolverhampton! The catering facilities within the ground are pretty good, serving a range of pies, including Steak & Kidney (£2.60) and Cheese & Onion (£2.60). Plus Cornish Pasties (£2.60) and Sausage Rolls (£2.40). In addition a foot long Hot Dog is on offer for £3.80, plus a 1/2 pound 'Big Al' (whoever he is?) Cheeseburger also at £3.80.
On one visit I got talking to a couple of Wolves fans on the train up to Wolverhampton and they suggested going for a drink in the city centre before the game which I did. I had quite an enjoyable time and they even took me right up to the away supporters entrance, shook my hand and wished me luck! very hospitable. I personally did not experience any problems on my visits, but I have received a number of reports of others that have not been so lucky. It is strongly advised that colours are kept covered around the ground and city centre (and that goes for your cars too).
Where To Drink
Well it may be a great stadium, with good atmosphere, but the main drawback with a visit to Molineux is the lack of away friendly pubs for visiting supporters to drink in. Now there are a number of pubs situated around the ground, but they do not admit away fans, which to a certain extent I can understand. But what is a real shame is that unlike many new stadiums that are located out of town with not much in the way of drinking holes located around, Molineux is only a 10 minute walk away from the city centre where there are plenty of pubs to be found. However by far the greater majority of these are for home supporters only on matchdays (even the Wetherspoons has bouncers on the door demanding to see your match ticket for one of the home sections before being allowed entry).
However I have been advised that there is a small bar called the Bluebrick inside the Premier Inn hotel, located near to the railway station, which is being frequented by away fans. If arriving by train then as you leave the station entrance, turn right and you will see a walkway going down under the station. At the bottom of the walkway turn left and after a short walk you will see the Bluebrick over on your right. Also some away supporters have also been frequenting the Litten Tree in Victoria Street and the Goose in the City in Lichfield Street.
Due to the lack of pubs for away fans near to the stadium, it may be an idea instead to drink on the way to the stadium, rather than planning on drinking in Wolverhampton itself. If you do decide to wander around the centre, then colours should be covered and numbers waking around in the party kept to a minimum.