KARL WHITEHOUSE LOOKS AT THE HISTORY OF WOLVES V CHELSEA
FIRST MEETINGS
- The first meeting of the two clubs was in Division 2 on the 8th June 1906 played at Molineux, the game finished 2-1 to Chelsea.
- Division 1 – The first meeting of the two clubs in Division 1 on the 17th September 1932 played at Molineux and the game finished 2-1 to Chelsea.
- FA Cup – The first meeting of the two clubs in the FA Cup was in the 3rd Round on the 25th February 1911 played at Molineux and the game finished 2-0 to Chelsea.
- Premier League – The first meeting of the two clubs in the Premier league was on the 20th September 2003 played at Molineux in front of 29,208 fans and the game finished 5-0 to Chelsea.
- League Cup – The most recent game was in the 3rd Round on the 25th February 2012 played at Stamford Bridge with a crowd of 32,569 fans, the game finished 6-0 to Chelsea.
MATCH OF THE DAY
There was a game played on the 20th January 1912 the game finished 3-1 to Wolves.
OTHER MEETINGS
Andy Thompson testimonial match played at Molineux on the 31st July 1996 the game finished 1-0 to Chelsea.
Wolves Team: Mike Stowell, Jamie Smith, Steve Froggatt, Tony Popovic, Mark Venus, Dean Richards, Andy Thompson (captain), Iwan Roberts, Steve Bull, Steve Corica, Simon Osborn, Mark Atkins, Darren Ferguson, Mark Rankine, Serge Romano, Jermaine Wright, Glen Crowe.
Chelsea Team: Dimitri Kharine, Craig Burley, Terry Phelan, Erland Johnsen, Frank LeBoeuf, Steve Clarke, John Spencer, Roberto Di Matteo, Mark Hughes, Gavin Peacock, Dennis Wise, David Lee, Kevin Hitchcock, Andy Myers, Scott Minto, Mark Nicholls.
MOST RECENT MEETINGS
Premier League – The most recent game was on the 25th August 2024 the game finished 6-2 to Chelsea, Wolves goal scorers were Matheus Cunha & Jorgen Strand Larsen and Chelsea scorers were Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, Joao Felix and Noni Madueke hat trick in front of 31,325 fans.
- FA Cup – The most recent game was in the 5th Round on the 18th February 2017 played at Molineux with a crowd of 30,193 fans and the game finished 2-0 to Chelsea with Pedro and Diego Costa getting the goals.
League Cup – The most recent game was in the 3rd Round on the 25th February 2012 played at Stamford Bridge with a crowd of 32,569 fans and the game finished 6-0 to Chelsea.
LAST 6 MATCHES
7th May 2021 Chelsea 2 Wolves 2 at Stamford Bridge
8th October 2022 Chelsea 3 Wolves 0 at Stamford Bridge
8th April 2023 Wolves 1 Chelsea 0 at Molineux
24th December 2023 Wolves 2 Chelsea 1 at Molineux
4th February 2024 Chelsea 2 Wolves 4 at Stamford Bridge
25th August 2024 Wolves 2 Chelsea 6 at Molineux
DO YOU REMEMBER?
Chelsea 2 Wolves 2 7th May 2022 at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea started the brighter of the two sides and nearly broke through within the first 10 minutes. Timo Werner forced a save from José Sá at the far post in the game’s early stages.
Wolves responded with opportunities from set pieces, with Romain Saïss twice heading off target. Chelsea thought they had taken the lead when Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored from close range, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside in the buildup.
Wolves had two excellent chances to end the first half on a high. Leander Dendoncker fired over the bar, and Rayan Aït-Nouri set up Pedro Neto, who launched a promising effort over the crossbar after a brilliant solo run.
Half-Time: Chelsea 0-0 Wolves
The second half began with drama. Just 10 minutes in, Romain Saïss brought Romelu Lukaku down in the box, gifting Chelsea a penalty. Lukaku calmly scored to put the home side 1-0 ahead.
Chelsea doubled their advantage just three minutes later after mistakes by Ruben Neves and Conor Coady allowed the Blues to capitalize. Lukaku found the net again, putting Wolves on the back foot at 2-0.
Wolves made changes as the game entered the final 20 minutes, looking to spark a comeback. Their persistence paid off in the 80th minute, as Trincão, assisted by Chiquinho, curled a stunning shot into the top corner to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The momentum shifted in Wolves’ favor as they pressed for an equalizer. Both Raúl Jiménez and Trincão came close with efforts narrowly missing the target.
In the final moments of injury time, Wolves struck. Chelsea failed to clear their lines, allowing Chiquinho space to deliver a pinpoint cross. Conor Coady rose to meet it, heading home to secure a dramatic equalizer and send the Wolves supporters into raptures.
Full-Time: Chelsea 2-2 Wolves
Chelsea Team: Mendy, Rudiger, Silva, Azpilicueta, James, Alonso, Kovacic, Loftus Cheek, Pulisic, Lukaku, Werner.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Chalobah, Christensen, Sarr, Niguez, Barkley, Mount, Havertz, Ziyech.
Manager: Thomas Tuchel
Goals: Lukaku (56 penalty, 58)
Wolves Team: Sa, Boly, Ait Nouri, Coady, Dendoncker, Jonny, Saiss, Moutinho, Neto, Neves, Jimenez.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Hoever, Marcal, Toti, Cundle, Chiquinho, Hwang, Trincao, Silva.
Manager: Bruno Lage (absent), Tony Roberts & Alex Silva in charge of team affairs.
Goal: Trincao (79), Coady (90+9)
Attendance: 32,190
BIGGEST WINS
- Division 2 – The biggest win between the two clubs was on the 20th January 1912 in front of 9,000 fans at Molineux and the game finished in a 3-1 win for Wolves.
- Division 1 – The biggest win between the two clubs was on the 26th September 1953 in front of 36,134 fans at Molineux and the game finished in a 8-1 win for Wolves.
- Premier League – The biggest win between the two clubs was on the 5th December 2018 & 15 December 2020 both games were played at Molineux and the games finished 2-1 to Wolves.
- FA Cup – The biggest win between the two clubs was on the 14th January 1928 and the game finished 2-1 win for Wolves.
a little more history
Chelsea 1 Wolves 2 24th March 1979 in League Division 1 at Stamford Bridge
Tommy Langley opened the scoring for Chelsea on the 50th Minute of the game to make it 1-0.
Then John Richards got the equaliser in the game on the 52nd minute of the game to make it 1-1.
Bill Rafferty in the 61st Minute of the game made the game 2-1 to Wolves and they held onto the lead until the end of the game to take the points back to Molineux.
Chelsea Team: Peter Borota, Graham Wilkins, David Stride, Eammon Bannon, John Sitton, Mike Nutton, Ron Harris, Ray Wilkins, Trevor Aylott, Tommy Langley, Clive Walker.
Substitute: Gerry Stanley
Manager: Geoff Hurst
Wolves Team: Paul Bradshaw, Geoff Palmer, Derek Parkin, Peter Daniel, John McAlle, George Berry, Ken Hibbitt, Steve Daley, Billy Rafferty, John Richards, Willie Carr.
Substitute: Martin Patching
Manager: John Barnwell
Attendance: 20,502
Interesting Facts
Steve Daley makes his 200th league appearance.
BIGGEST DEFEATS
- Division 2 – The biggest defeats between the two clubs was on the 13th April 1907 & 16th September 1911 and the result was 4-0 win to Chelsea, both games were played at Stamford Bridge
- Division 1 – The biggest defeat was on the 30th August 1958 in front of 62,118 fans at Stamford Bridge, the game finished 6-2 win for Chelsea. This game was famous for Jimmy Greaves getting 5 goals in the game.
Premier League – The biggest defeat between the two clubs was a on the 25th August 2024 the game finished 6-2 to Chelsea, Wolves goal scorers were Matheus Cunha & Jorgen Strand Larsen and Chelsea scorers were Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, Joao Felix and Noni Madueke hat trick in front of 31,325 fans.
HEAD TO HEAD STATS
PLAYING FOR BOTH TEAMS
Michael Mancienne played for Chelsea 2006-2011 and made 4 appearances and played for Wolves in 2 loan spells and the first one was in 2008 where made 10 appearances and the 2nd spell was also a loan spell from 2009-2011 and made 46 appearances.
Carlton Cole played for Chelsea 2001-2006 made 25 appearances and scored 4 goals and played for Wolves in a loan spell 2002-2003 made 7 appearances and scored 1 goal.
Diego Costa played for Chelsea 2014-2017 made 89 appearances and scored 52 goals and just recently joined Wolves in 2022 for the rest of the season and so far has made 1 appearance to this date.
George Saville Played for Chelsea 2011-2014 where he made no appearances and played for Wolves 2014-2017 and made 50 appearances and scored 6 goals.
Dave Beasant Played for Wolves in 1992 in a loan spell of 4 games and Played for Chelsea in 1989-1993 and made 133 appearances.
Michael Gilkes Played for Chelsea 1992 made 1 appearance and played for Wolves 1997-1999 made 38 appearances scored 1 goal.
Tommy Langley Played for Chelsea 1974-1980 made 142 appearances scored 40 goals and played for Wolves 1984-1985 made 23 appearances scored 4 goals.
Jim McCalliog
Played for Chelsea 1963-1965 made 7 appearances scored 2 goals and played for Wolves 1969-1974 made 163 appearances scored 34 goals.
Pedro Neto
Played for Wolves 2019-2024 made 135 appearances scored 14 goals and played for Chelsea 2024 made 23 appearances scored 3 goals after his transfer to the club.
Other Players:
Walter William George Akers, Bill Barraclough, Kevin Berkoe, Nathan Blake, Dickie Deacon, Keith Downing, John Harris, David Ijaha, Steven McMillan, Frank Nouble, Reginald Weaver, Dylan Williams.
PLAYED & MANAGED BOTH TEAMS
Colin Lee played for Chelsea 1980-1987 made 185 appearances and scored 36 goals and managed Wolves 1998-2000 as was in charge for 111 games.
Jim Barron Played for Wolves 1961-1965 made 8 appearances and had a caretaker manager spell in 1984 and played for Chelsea 1965-1966 made 1 appearance.
Tommy Docherty Played for Chelsea 1961-1962 made 4 appearances and managed Wolves 1984-1985.
Glenn Hoddle Played for Chelsea 1993-1995 made 31 appearances scored 1 goal and managed Wolves 2004-2006 and was in charge for 76 games.
Damian Matthew Played for Chelsea made 21 appearances and was Wolves scout 1999-2003.
ARTICLE BY KARL WHITEHOUSE
I am a Wolves fan been for over 30 years where
I have supported them both home and away games in the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s and now like looking into wolves games the stats behind the games they play in the premier league and also look other stats if asked by someone else in the podcast. I have also done the 92 football league grounds and shortly be doing a ebook about peoples favourite match they went to along with a match report and if possible stats from game.