Wolves skipper Karl Henry searching for some local pride against Birmingham City

Feb 7 2010 by Andy Walker, Sunday Mercury

WOLVES skipper Karl Henry is ready to burst Blues’ bubble – and risk getting evicted!

There’s nobody who will have found Wolves’ depressing midweek FA Cup exit at Crystal Palace harder to swallow than local lad Henry.

And the battling midfielder is eager to inject some pride back into the men from Molineux.

However, should the 27-year-old help lead Wolves to victory at St Andrew’s today, then it may well cause him problems at his Sutton Coldfield home.

“My landlord is a Birmingham supporter,” said Henry. “I got him a ticket for the game at our place but he’s a season ticket holder so he will be there.

“I haven’t seen him since Tuesday but he gave me stick after Birmingham beat us at our place. I owe him one. Sunday we can put the record straight.

“There are so many local teams doing well and that is good for the Midlands. It would be fantastic to see three or four local derbies in a season.”

But while Blues have soared to great heights, Wolves have predictably been drawn into the relegation battle that newly-promoted sides are always expected to face in the Premier League.

Boss Mick McCarthy has already labelled his side’s November defeat to Alex McLeish’s men as a low point of their campaign so far.

The manner in which Blues comfortably rolled over Wolves at Molineux, with Lee Bowyer’s early strike the decider, was surprising for those anticipating a typical derby scrap.

However, Henry believes that the difference between the two neighbours is down to one thing – cash.

“I think if you look at last season, their wages were more than double ours,” explained the ex-Stoke man.