[rondwisan]

Wolves: Carling Cup win at Manchester United will do us good, says Murray
Oct 23 2010



IT’S been nigh-on 15 years since Wolves last properly bared their fangs in the League Cup.

You have to go back to January 1996 when Mark McGhee’s men, then 20th in the second tier, reached the last eight only for Tommy Johnson to send fifth-placed Premier club Villa through at Villa Park. It remains the last time Wolves have reached the fifth round.

The tale of woe in the last 14 years is long indeed with first-round exits to Swindon (twice), Chesterfield, Oxford, Wycombe and Rotherham, second-round defeats to Morecambe, Watford, Burnley and Bournemouth, and a third-round loss to Reading. Arsenal thumped Dave Jones’ men 5-1 at Highbury in round four in December 2003, with Jeremie Aliadiere (2), Kanu, Sylvain Wiltord and Cesc Fabregas goals.

For Matt Murray, who first played in the competition in October 2002, it has left a bitter taste.

“As a player I never got very far in it. My first-ever League Cup game was at Rotherham and we drew 4-4 and lost on penalties.

“The whole time I’ve been involved with Wolves, which is a long time, I never remember us doing well at all. Mike Stowell and the boys played Villa that time but there’s been nothing memorable in the Carling Cup.”

Wolves visit Old Trafford on Tuesday in the Fourth Round of this year's competition. Manchester United knocked Wolves out in the third round last season but Murray remains hopeful.

“The year we got promoted we had a good run in the FA Cup and beating Newcastle (in January 2003) really kicked us on. We’re playing pretty well at the minute but just not getting the points on the board.

“If we’re due a win then one at Old Trafford will give us confidence.”