Our Norwich City Premier League A-Z series finishes with a look at a few past encounters with Wolves – Chris Lakey hits the memory button

The Pink Un: Malky Mackay celebrates after scoring a late and vital third goal against Wolves in April, 2002 Picture: PAMalky Mackay celebrates after scoring a late and vital third goal against Wolves in April, 2002 Picture: PA

April 28, 2002

City 3 Wolves 1

Time to stretch your imagination just a smidgeon.

Whilst this series has been all about the league matches against next season's opponents, this one is a Division One play-off semi-final, first leg - so it's still league... sort of.

The Pink Un: Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd. 07904 64026724/03/12Grant Holt of Norwich is sent off by Referee Mark Clattenburg for a 2nd yellow card offence after his foul on Michael Kightly of Wolves during the Barclays Premier League match at Carrow Road Stadium, Norwich.Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd. 07904 64026724/03/12Grant Holt of Norwich is sent off by Referee Mark Clattenburg for a 2nd yellow card offence after his foul on Michael Kightly of Wolves during the Barclays Premier League match at Carrow Road Stadium, Norwich. (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

The second leg will be remembered for a Wolves win (1-0) that meant nothing... and for those home fans who came prepared for that eventuality with a banner that read "You've let us down again".

But it was the first leg in which the semi-final was won, at a highly-charged Carrow Road.

Dean Sturridge had given Wolves the lead after just 22 minutes, but Mark Rivers levelled it 11 minutes after the break. City needed a good home advantage, and edged ahead through a brilliant header by Paul McVeigh in the 73rd minute.

It was when Malky Mackay scored a third with a towering header on 90 minutes that City began to believe.

The Pink Un: Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd. 07904 64026724/03/12Grant Holt of Norwich is sent off by Referee Mark Clattenburg for a 2nd yellow card offence after his foul on Michael Kightly of Wolves during the Barclays Premier League match at Carrow Road Stadium, Norwich.Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd. 07904 64026724/03/12Grant Holt of Norwich is sent off by Referee Mark Clattenburg for a 2nd yellow card offence after his foul on Michael Kightly of Wolves during the Barclays Premier League match at Carrow Road Stadium, Norwich. (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

The rest is history - a great week or so... until Birmingham ruined it all in the play-off final.

October 21, 2008

City 5 Wolves 2

Leroy Lita was pretty much a scoring machine during his short but sweet loan spell at Carrow Road.

Brought in by Glenn Roeder - whose loans deals were either sublime or ridiculous (no grey area with him), Lita bagged a hat-trick and ended his spell with seven goals in 16 appearances.

This was Lita's third start, and his first goals, as Wolves - managed by Mick McCarthy - were knocked off the top of the table.

City had been gifted the lead when keeper Carl Ikeme tipped Sammy Clingan's free-kick into his own net before Lita made it 2-0 in the 39th minute. Neill Collins headed one for Wolves four minutes before the break, but Lita struck again just before the hour when he lobbed Ikeme from 20 yards. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake converted a penalty after a foul by Wes Hoolahan to make it 3-2.

Wolves had Richard Stearman sent off in the 69th minute after a second yellow and City took advantage, Lita headed in Clingan's resulting free-kick and Lee Croft hit the fifth with quarter of an hour to go. Those with long memories will recall that City were in the midst of an FA investigation into alleged match fixing in the home defeat by Derby County a fortnight or so earlier - both clubs were cleared with Asian betting markets to blame.

March 24, 2012

City 2 Wolves 1

Grant Holt was hero and villain - scoring both goals for City and then seeing red five minutes before the end.

Matt Jarvis - remember him? - put Wolves ahead on 25 minutes but a minute later Holt equalised.

Holt got the winner from the spot on the stroke of half-time after Eggert Jonsson handled, but saw yellow for the second time.

City rose to 11th in the table - Wolves were rock bottom after four defeats on the trot.

Manager

Nuno Espirito Santo

Was a goalkeeper in his playing days, in Spain and his native Portugal, and turned to management in 2012, with Rio Ave, taking them into the Europa League for the first time. Joined Valencia two years later and then moved on to Porto. Joined Wolves in May 2017 and a year later led them into the top flight.

Last season

A cracking return after a six-year absence, finishing seventh. Highlights included a wins over Spurs, Manchester United and Arsenal and a run to the FA Cup semi-finals.

New season

Santo has good financial backing so expect a few more Portuguese players to join. Second-season syndrome might not be as big a problem as it might have been - hopes are high Wolves can quickly establish themselves at football's top table.

HEAD TO HEAD

NW DRAWS WW

League 12 14 26

Cup 1 0 1

FA Cup 0 1 2

League Cup 0 1 1

Total 13 16 30

Last 10 league games

2017/2018

CHAMPIONSHIP

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Wolves 2 Norwich 2

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Norwich 0 Wolves 1

2016/2017

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Norwich 3 Wolves 1

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Wolves 1 Norwich 2

2014/2015

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Norwich 2 Wolves 0

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Wolves 1 Norwich 0

2011/2012

PREMIER LEAGUE

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Norwich 2 Wolves 1

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Wolves 2 Norwich 2

2008/2009

CHAMPIONSHIP

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Wolves 3 Norwich 3

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Norwich 5 Wolves 2