Norwich City v Wolves, 23rd February 1980

Highlights of the First Division fixture at Carrow Road between Norwich City and Wolves on 23rd February 1980.

John Barnwell was appointed Wolves manager in November 1978 following a dismal run of 11 defeats in 14 matches that led to the dismissal of Sammy Chung. Barnwell's appointment signalled the beginning of an all-too brief period of success for Wolves; with the slide towards relegation from the First Division that season ultimately reversed, Barnwell guided Wolves towards two FA Cup semi-finals, victory in the League Cup Final on 15th March 1980 and a return of European football to Molineux. Wolves also achieved a very creditable finish of 6th in the First Division at the end of the 1979-80 season.

A prime reason for the relatively high league position attained by Wolves that season was their impressive away form - 10 wins away from Molineux was, in terms of away success, equalled only by Arsenal and league champions Liverpool. In their last match before Norwich, some two weeks previously, Wolves had beaten title-chasing Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Against Norwich, Wolves fielded the same line-up that defeated Forest in the League Cup final a few weeks later. Wolves were in excellent form at that particular stage of the season; from the beginning of February through to the end of March, Wolves won eight matches, drew once and lost just two matches in league and cup football. At Carrow Road, Wolves displayed all their attacking instincts to great effect but were also aided significantly by some poor defending from The Canaries.

Prior to their encounter, Norwich and Wolves were 10th and 11th in the league respectively and on equal points. Manager John Bond included in his team England World Cup winner Martin Peters, who joined Norwich in March 1975 from Tottenham Hotspur, and young forward Justin Fashanu, whose regular goal scoring for Norwich earned him a subsequent ill-fated £1m move to Nottingham Forest.

Originally broadcast by Anglia Television with Gerry Harrison as commentator.