Marking 30 years since one of the most memorable penalty shootouts in Wolves’ illustrious past, historian and author Clive Corbett has looked back at that evening against Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux.
It is incredible to think that it is now thirty years since two memorable moments in Wolves’ history, both in February 2025.
The first would never have happened in the current FA Cup competition where no replays are allowed, but on 8th February they welcomed Sheffield Wednesday to Molineux, just nine days after a stalemate in Sheffield. The second, a notable achievement by a cult hero, came at the end of the same month and will be covered in a future article.
But what is arguably one of the most dramatic penalty shootouts in FA Cup history was set up three decades ago after 210 minutes of action had failed to separate Premiership Sheffield Wednesday and second-tier Wolves
It all started with a goalless draw at Hillsborough when Wolves keeper Paul Jones saved a spot kick from Chris Bart-Williams.
Then, at Molineux, Wolves were watched by Sir Jack Hayward as the magic of the cup drew him away from the Bahamas to a freezing cold Wolverhampton night. It appeared that the hosts would reward his loyalty as they threatened to finish off the Owls in a frantic first half.
On 12 minutes, Kevin Pressman misjudged an in-swinging corner from Robbie Dennison and David Kelly pounced to head home from close range. Don Goodman then hit the post before Pressman made amends for his earlier blunder by saving his half-volley on 36 minutes.
There was a fear that Wolves would pay for not extending their lead and so it proved when Mark Bright equalised on 56 minutes, forcing the ball home after Gordon Cowans had blocked a Graham Hyde shot on the line. However, midway through the second period Pressman somehow kept Kelly out, pushing his point-blank shot on to a post.
In extra time Wednesday should have won the game. Bright headed over Waddle’s cross before Jones saved a stinging drive from Andy Sinton. Another future Wolves player, Guy Whittingham, set up Bright for an inviting chance with just a minute left, only for him to blast over when it seemed easier to score.
So the tie went to Molineux’s second penalty shootout. The first had been in a Birmingham Senior Cup tie with VS Rugby in 1989. After five penalty kicks Wolves were 3-0 down and many home fans had given up hope and were heading for the exits. The bare statistics accompanying this article are taken from Martin Swain’s report in the Express & Star, but of course they do not begin to tell half of the story.
After misses by Andy Thompson and Robbie Dennison, the experienced Gordon Cowans calmly converted Wolves’ first successful penalty to give a glimmer of hope. Wednesday defender Andy Pearce was next up, needing to score to send his team through but hit the ball against the bar. David Kelly then converted to keep Wolves in it – 2-3!
Chris Bart-Williams was next to have the chance to finish Wolves off. He opted for the other side to his penalty at Hillsborough, but Jones again guessed right to make the save. John de Wolf now had to score to take the shoot-out into sudden death. The shaggy-haired Dutchman did just that by putting the ball into the top right-hand corner of Pressman’s net – 3-3.
It was then the turn of Chris Waddle, reliving his infamous miss in England’s 1990 World Cup semi final shootout defeat in Turin at the hands of Germany. Jones guessed right again and the most incredible of turnarounds was on. Goodman strode forward and according to Swain the advice of Thompson was shouted from the centre circle huddle: “Pressman is diving first every time, hit it straight.”
Goodman did just that as the visiting keeper could only throw out a left arm in helpless despair, and the Wolves man memorably gazed to the skies in grateful celebration. Graham Taylor and his men celebrated wildly whilst Wednesday boss Trevor Francis was left dumbstruck on the touch line.
Wolves went on to claim another Premiership scalp in the form of Leicester City in round five before falling to Crystal Palace in a quarter final replay.
Bobby Downes remembers the night with great affection: “Of course we did have a good cup run that season, especially the shoot-out with Sheffield Wednesday. We were 3-0 down, looked down and out but somehow triumphed. It sparked a little bit of spirit in people, such a fantastic night. We looked dead and buried – unbelievable.”
Two well-known sports journalists add their memories of that night. Johnny Phillips, Sky Sports reporter and Wolves fan said: "Watching from the South Bank for the denouement, there was a sense of anticipation about the penalty shootout.
"This was the first proper one Wolves had been involved in; it was novel and exciting. But the bubble burst in no time. To see crowd favourites Andy Thompson and Robbie Dennison both fail was desperately disappointing.
"When Wednesday keeper Kevin Pressman put his side 3-0 up with the greatest penalty you will ever see, the sense of anti-climax overcame us all. There just seemed no way back. But then the last vestige of lingering hope was replaced with incredulity as each subsequent penalty went Wolves’ way. All seven of them.
"The jeers accompanying Chris Waddle when he strode up to take Wednesday’s sudden-death penalty were cruel, a throwback to that semi-final night in Turin at the 1990 World Cup.
"I don’t ever remember looking at a player thinking he was going to miss a penalty. But the reluctance of Waddle as he wandered up to the spot seemed to buoy the Wolves fans. It was a terrible penalty and Paul Jones, as he had been at Hillsborough, was the hero.
"All it required was for Don Goodman to lift the roof off the place with the final act. It had everything, that game. From the rousing rendition of The Liquidator before kick-off to the exuberant celebrations of the players after the shoot-out. And so much in between."
Paul Franks, formerly of BBC Radio WM, added: "There have been some incredible penalty shoot-outs over the years that I have seen, including with England, but none more dramatic than that. My initial thought, with Wolves 3-0 down, was that they were dead and buried, it was over.
"I remember that Paul Jones made a couple of saves and that Wednesday keeper, Kevin Pressman, took one of the penalties. I think that it was the first penalty that Chris Waddle had taken since the World Cup in 1990. Nights under the lights at Molineux are special and on that evening it was a fantastic atmosphere."
Wolves 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1 (AET)
Wolves win 4-3 on penalties
- Wednesday 8th February 1995
- FA Cup fourth round replay
Wolves: Jones; Blades (Mills 90), Thompson, Emblen, de Wolf, Law, Rankine (Bennett 117). Kelly, Goodman, Cowans, Dennison. Substitute (unused): de Bont.
Sheffield Wednesday: Pressman; Atherton, Nolan, Hyde (Whittingham 106), Pearce, Walker, Waddle, Bart-Williams, Ingesson (Sheridan 71), Bright, Sinton. Substitute (unused): Woods.
Scorers | Wolves: Kelly (12), Sheffield Wednesday: Bright (56)
Referee: Alan Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)
Attendance: 28,136
That evening under the Molineux floodlights might have seemed special enough but 17 days later at Vale Park, a certain Johannes de Wolf etched his own name into Wolves folklore – but more about that next week…
