Woverhampton Wanderers' Karl Henry has no worries over local rivals Blues' spending power

Nov 22 2009 by Bill Howell, Sunday Mercury

“The FA Cup win was a great result for us and a really good performance,” recalls Henry.

“I remember that day well. Neither of us played a weakened team.

“In terms of the league games last season to lose at their place and to draw at ours was a disappointment.

“But we went on a run after that defeat at their place and clinched the title.”

Wolves saw their lead cut to two points with that defeat at Blues and there were serious concerns that they might blow up with nerves.

But a five game run-in saw them net four wins and a draw and the title was theirs by a clear seven points.

“I think sometimes those things happen in games,” said Henry of Blues’ reaction to Carsley’s dismissal for an above-the-knee lunge on Chris Iwelumo.

“When a team goes down to ten men it makes them buck their ideas up, and all of a sudden they show discipline.

“It was the same when we played Manchester United in the Carling Cup. With 11 men we were probably the better side. Then they had a man sent off and all of a sudden started to show a bit more discipline and stopped marauding forward.

“That made it difficult because they are a good side.”

The Black Country derby holds a greater affection for Wolverhampton-born Henry who needs little reminding of the pain endured in five of the seven matches over the last three years.

Henry actually only played in three of those games which saw two 3-0 defeats and a goalless draw at The Hawthorns.

“We played them in the FA Cup and the play-offs, which we were disappointed with.

“We won the league game at Molineux but they beat us quite a few times that season and you just have to hold your hand up and say they were the strongest squad in the league that year,” Henry says.

“They proved that by winning the league the following season.

“Now we are a good team and we are in a good position. We still have that great team spirit that we have always had and have more quality players than we had a couple of seasons ago.

“Next Sunday is going to be a great occasion. A full house with both sets of supporters singing their hearts out – and hopefully that is all they will be doing!”

Henry admits that Wolves, who have won just once on their own patch this season, will face a confident Blues buoyed by their fine performance at Anfield.

“They, just like us, will argue that they have a stronger team than last season,” he said.

“They were unlucky at Liverpool when they had scored a great goal through Cameron Jerome.

“ I am sure that will be up there with the Goal of the Season contenders.

“They have been playing well and have got a good squad of players.

“I think it will be a tight game, two teams of similar quality and aspirations.”