Wolves v Newcastle United, 10th April 1976

Full highlights of the First Division match between Wolves and Newcastle United at Molineux on 10th April 1976. Originally broadcast on BBC Match of the Day, with commentary provided by Barry Davies, the uploaded footage is of Sky TV's Bobby Charlton's Football Scrapbook, presented by Dickie Davies with contributions from Bobby Charlton and studio guest, former Wolves midfielder Kenny Hibbitt. The 1975-76 season ended with Wolves relegated from the First Division and with it came the inevitable dismissal of manager Bill McGarry. However, there were a number of matches throughout that season that highlighted the quality of the Wolves team, including five-goal thrashings of Sheffield United, Burnley and Newcastle United together with an impressive FA Cup run that ended against eventual finalists Manchester United at the quarter-final stage (   • FA Cup Quarter-final and QF Replay between...  ). For their match against Gordon Lee's Newcastle, Wolves displayed attacking qualities that, unfortunately, proved so spasmodic for much of that particular season. Centre-forward John Richards was typically prolific with a second half hat-trick against Newcastle that formed part of an impressive 25 league and cup goals for Wolves. McGarry, though, had yet to find a strike partner to compliment Richards following the retirement of Derek Dougan at the end of the previous season and, in addition, he was unable to suitably replace the creative wing play of Dave Wagstaffe. A profligate defence was a further significant factor in Wolves' relegation that season, with 68 goals conceded in total. Ahead of their match at Molineux and with just weeks of the season remaining, Wolves occupied a relegation spot in 20th position, 2 points behind Birmingham City and potential safety in 19th. Newcastle, having defeated Wolves 5-1 at St James' Park earlier in the season, were 14th in the league and boasted one of the finest English centre-forwards of the period in Malcolm Macdonald. 'Supermac' ended the campaign with 24 league and cup goals before being transferred to Arsenal at the end of the season.