This day 5th October 1974 - Boro 2 Wolves 1

[erimus74]

Boro had last faced Wolves in a top flight fixture on Teesside on the 7th November 1953
Boro were relegated that season & didnt return till this summer, 1974

Within 10 minutes of kickoff we got off to a perfect start when David Mills set up the old master, John Hickton, for our opening goal, with no further goal action during the rest of the first half the score remained this way as the team left the field at the interval

Send half & just before the hour mark Jack decided to a make change in personal & brought on our young striker Alan Willey to make his 3rd first team appearance (2 previous starts) replacing Bobby Murdoch

Alan Willey now playing alongside David Mills with John Hickton dropping in to Bobby Murdochs role

On the hour mark & out of the blue, Wolves drew level when Derek Dougan, who had been shadowed closely by Willie Maddren, smashed a 20 yarder past the helpless Jim Platt, into the roof of the net, 1-1
During the weeks training leading up to the game big Jack had told Willie to force Derek Dougan on to his left foot because thats his poor foot, during the game when the Doug got the ball Willie forced the Wolves player onto his left foot, on this occsssion he smashed home the equaliser, Willie Maddren looked across at big Jack in the dugout who just shrugged his shoulders, 😂

After been on the back foot for the majority of the game the equaliser lifted Wolves who were pressing Boro back looking for the the 2nd  goal, but it was the Boro who scored the vital 2nd & winning goal with Alan Willey scoring his first ever league goal in the 76 minutes, keeping both points on Teesside & lifting the mighty Boro to 5th in the 1st division table only 3 points behind Leaders Ipswich Town (2 points a win back then)

Big Jacks team

Jim Platt
John Craggs
Frank Spaggon
Graeme Souness
Stuart Boam
Willie Maddren
Bobby Murdoch - Alan Willey
David Mills
John Hickton
Alan Foggon
David Armstrong.

Carl Douglas was top of the UK Singles Chart with Kung Fu Fighting