Birmingham City v Wolves, 21st November 1981

Highlights of the Division One match between Birmingham City and Wolves, played at St Andrews on 21st November 1981.

Wolves ultimately suffered the ignominy of relegation at the end of the 1981-82 season but the match against Blues highlighted the all-too sporadic capabilities of John Barnwell's Wolves team. But, arguably, it was indication that Wolves had the neccessary means to have avoided relegation that season.

Following victory over Stoke City at Molineux on 28th November 1981 (   • Wolves v Stoke City, 28th November 1981  ) and with 16 matches played Wolves were 16th in the league table, just 2 points away from eventual champions Liverpool in mid-table. However, the season then turned on a disastrous three month period when Wolves failed to record a single victory in ten matches (losing eight matches in succession), during which time Barnwell resigned as manager.

With finances at the club stifled through the building of a near-ruinous new stand at Molineux, there had been virtually no investment in the Wolves team for a couple of seasons. But despite the winless run of matches and the uncertainty of manager upheaval, the wily experience and qualities of Wolves players such as John Richards, Andy Gray, Kenny Hibbitt and Willie Carr had managed to eke out just enough points so that, by the time of the return fixture against Birmingham City a month before the end of the season, Wolves were 17th in the table and three points clear of relegation. Wolves climbed to 16th following their 1-1 at Molineux to Blues but with survival tantalisingly close, Wolves lost two vital matches against fellow relegation rivals Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion. Defeat against Albion saw Wolves slide back into the relegation zone and the club were relegated soon after.

Originally broadcast by BBC Match of the Day with commentary provided by John Motson.