Mac knifes Wolves again

Sixteen months ago the Tartan Terrier destroyed Wolves' promotion dreams in a dramatic play-off semi-final that pointed the way to the Premiership.

And he was the tormentor in chief again last night with a sensational two-goal demolition job that re-affirmed the belief that Colin Todd's battle-hardened troops have what it takes to make a rapid return to the top flight.

Deposed 24 hours earlier, Wanderers are back on top of Division One and, as if there was ever any serious doubt, McGinlay is back on the goal trail.

The smile and the salute said it all as he left the field to a cacophony of hostile jeering from the home fans. Arms raised and chest out, he acknowledged it for what it was - a grudging tribute.

Booed at every touch of the ball - a legacy of his clash with Wolves striker David Kelly in the heat of that famous May '95 play-off decider at Burnden - this was an occasion McGinlay relished from first whistle to last.

He struck twice in a sensational second half show to take his total for the season to five and leave Wolves looking up in admiration at a team that is out in front again at the head of the field.

Not even the last minute flare-up, which followed the dismissal of Darren Ferguson, could overshadow an awesome display of character and resilience that will strengthen Wanderers' fast-improving status as the hot favourites for promotion.

A night of passion, commitment and no small measure of quality was marred by the ugly flare-up sparked when the Manchester United manager's son was red-carded for lashing out and flooring Michael Johansen. As Colin Todd stormed onto the pitch to protest to referee Neil Barry, quickly followed by Wolves boss Mark McGhee, who insists he was just trying to calm things down, Ferguson Jnr kept the pot boiling and a scrum of bodies threatened to become a massed brawl.

The two managers argued as opposing players squared up but order eventually ensued and in the post-match peace Todd and McGhee agreed that young Fergie, scorer of the 12th minute goal that presented Wanderers with their toughest examination of the season so far, had no grounds for complaint.

"When a player raises his hands, whoever that player may be, he is asking for trouble," Todd said in judgment. "A hand was raised and there was contact.

"Even if it had been one of my players, I'm afraid that if the ref had seen it, he would have had to go."

McGhee confirmed that Ferguson would be disciplined in line with the club's code of conduct and backed the referee. "The decision was right," he agreed.

"I've watched the replay several times and he clearly lashed out in his frustration as the Bolton player pulled his jersey. I could see why he was frustrated but that doesn't alter the fact that the referee made the right decision."

McGhee was also calm enough to give a considered assessment of Wanderers, forgetting his disappointment and taking heart from the defeat.

"They are the best team in the division," he said. "Before the game I was wondering how we would compare with them and at half time I was totally satisfied but we were let down in the second half by individual errors.

"I'm greatly encouraged that we can keep track with the likes of Bolton. If we can finish above them, we will be promoted."

The way Wanderers bounced back from the bitter disappointment of conceding the last minute equaliser to Stoke and composed themselves after Wolves stormed into an ominous early lead, they have the combination of quality and character that suggests no-one will finish above them.

Going to Fortress Molineux is never easy and the task was made even harder by the scent of revenge in the air, both on and off the pitch. For the first time this season, Wanderers were intimidated and, for a spell, they seemed to have met their match.

Steve Bull epitomised the determination of the Old Golds with the awesome power that took him past Jimmy Phillips and Scott Sellars before supplying the quality cross to tee up Ferguson for his second goal in successive games.

Despite playing second fiddle for much of the first half, Wanderers still outnumbered Wolves on clear-cut scoring chances. There was no discernible rhythm in midfield but McGinlay and Nathan Blake still managed to bring excellent saves from Mike Stowell.

The combination proved too hot for even Stowell to handle three minutes into the second half. Blake collected a probing, diagonal ball from Steve McAnespie and battled his way past Dean Richards before aiming a cross-shot towards the far post. Amazingly, for a striker who has had precious few openings fall his way, McGinlay couldn't have asked for an easier finish.

There was nothing easy about his second, the matchwinner, four minutes from the end. Per Frandsen's 25-yard pass was a beauty but McGinlay still had his back to goal as he received it. Ignoring aimless offside appeals, he received the ball on his chest, turned and drove a shot past Stowell for a quality finish to cap a wholehearted performance.

Wolves will argue that the game turned in the 51st minute when Bull missed the target with a free header. But the former England man's entire second half performance was a pale shadow of his first thanks to the efforts of Gudni Bergsson and Chis Fairclough at the heart of the Bolton defence and the emergence of Frandsen, Thompson, Sellars and Johansen as the dominant midfield force.

Todd, forced to reorganise at the back in the absence of the combative Gerry Taggart, was understandably unhappy that his team lacked its customary fluency in the first half but he had no qualms in declaring "mission accomplished".

"We went to do a job and we did the job in the second half," he said with justified satisfaction.

"In the first half we just didn't move the ball quickly enough but we deserved to win the game because after half time our shape, discipline, movement and passing was very good. All credit to the players.

"Wolves will be up there at the end of the season and our aim is to be up there too. At the moment we are top of the league but there's still a long way to go.

"Nevertheless, we've shown that we have some steel in the side to go with the other qualities we have and we are becoming a very difficult side to beat. To go a goal down and come back in the manner in which we did was terrific."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.