Edwards’ header, 50s domination and collapse under Lage – why Leeds at home is the craziest fixture in the calendar. Ahead of the matchup this weekend, [Gabriel Mills](https://x.com/GabrielMills04) dissects the drama of the ridiculous games in years gone by.
Historic English heavyweights
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Wolves and Leeds are both huge clubs with a rich history within the English game. The most successful period for Wolves came in the 1950’s where they won three First Division titles and an FA Cup while also acting as a catalyst for European football in 1954 following a groundbreaking friendly against Honved.
For Leeds, the 60s and 70s brought triumph and silverware to the West Yorkshire side under their greatest manager, Don Revie.
The record between the two sides is tight, with Leeds’ 45 wins trumping the 36 wins for the Old Gold. Having won the first ever meeting in 1921, Wolves would have to wait thirteen years until the next in 1934 while Wolves can boast the longest winning streak in the fixture (five), from 1958-1960 and 2017-2021.
1950’s Wolves – a force to be reckoned with
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Recent games have seen goals galore at Molineux and that was no different when you rewind 70 years.
Three consecutive matches against the whites at Molineux saw Wolves triumph 3-2, 4-2 and a remarkable 6-2 which is the biggest win in the fixture for either team. It comes as little surprise when you look at the team lining up, which contained the likes of Billy Wright, Peter Broadbent and Ron Flowers.
‘Dangerous Dave’, the hero in a seven-goal thriller
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The first game that will pop into the head of many when they think of Leeds at home will be the meeting in 2014/15 under Kenny Jackett. A real rollercoaster of a football match, Wolves would fight back from a goal down to finish the first half ahead, thanks to a brilliant brace from Nouha Dicko.
Benik Afobe would add a third goal early into the second half before a disaster ten minutes saw a Danny Batth own goal and a curled effort from Alex Mowatt level the scores at three each.
Thankfully for Wolves, Dave Edwards would step up with a superb header to win it and create unbelievable scenes, one of Molineux’s great moments in recent history.
European hopes shot to pieces under Lage
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From one of the best wins to one of the most gut-wrenching and painful losses in our time back in the Premier League, this one still stings.
Wolves sat 8th, five points behind Manchester United in 5th and looking for a return to European action after a successful season with Bruno Lage.
Business looked to be running smoothly after Wolves found themselves two goals up at half time, Francisco Trincao providing the first and scoring the second after being substituted on partway through the half.
After Raul Jimenez collided with the Leeds goalkeeper, referee Kevin Friend found the Mexican deserving of a second yellow card, a decision that was difficult for Wolves to understand and ultimately pivotal.
Wolves completely capitulated, conceding to Jack Harrison before letting Rodrigo tap home minutes later, with the second goal being the perfect example of exactly how not to defend. Wolves would go on to gift Leeds a winner in the 90th minute for 3-2, Luke Ayling with a not-so-rare goal at Molineux.
This game felt like a turning point as Lage would go on to win just two more matches with Wolves and lose nine before being sacked early the following season.
Crazy football, crazy officiating
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The most recent affair between the two was a thriller for the neutral but for Wolves fans it was a defensive nightmare with questionable refereeing decisions mixed in for good measure. Sound familiar?
After conceding early to a Jack Harrison goal, Wolves were denied what looked to have been a penalty when Semedo was brought down inside the box but appeals were waved away by Michael Salisbury.
Laughable defending from a corner for a second goal and a loss of possession in his own box by Jonny Otto for a third meant Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen had Leeds three up at the hour mark.
It would take an extraordinary 40-yard lob from Jonny to pull Wolves closer and eventually win him the [Premier League Goal of the Month](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20230331-jonny-wins-premier-league-award/) for March 2023.
Matheus Cunha scored via a deflection to give Wolves a real shot at an unlikely comeback but Jonny would halt the home advances with a straight red after VAR intervention after 84 minutes.
More drama unfolded in the final minutes as Leeds scored a fourth despite a shirt pull on Adama Traore in the build up.
Salisbury was instructed to go to the monitor but deemed the goal a legitimate one, leaving Wolves fans, players and backroom staff both baffled and furious with the decision.
Matheus Nunes was subsequently given a red card from the bench, which would later be rescinded due to no real crime committed by the Portuguese.
This time it was Wolves, Wolves who were falling apart, again.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Barmy Army
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To finish on a high, it’s well worth mentioning a memorable night under the lights at Molineux as Wolves battered Leeds 4-1
Barry Douglas scored a beautiful free kick before goals from Ivan Cavaleiro, Diogo Jota and Helder Costa had the Black Country side cruising to three points.
They would cruise to the title too after a sensational 2017/18 season, the night at home to Leeds being one of many memorable matches in the return to the Premier League.
Early six-pointer?
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Wolves welcome Leeds to Molineux on Saturday for what already looks to be a massive game at the bottom of the Premier League table.
The visitors have a four-point advantage after an opening day win against Everton and a 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle; only a last-gasp own goal last time out against Fulham prevents a bigger gap.
For Wolves, it looks bleak after they sit on zero points after four for the first time in their history.
A result feels crucial on Saturday for a team that has looked low on confidence and low on quality up to this stage, but a win may just put the wheels back in motion for Vitor Pereira’s side.