44 years on from League Cup triumph, Wolves have had little to shout about in the competition since.
Poor starts for Peirera and Potter
Wolves host West Ham in a second round tie containing the only pointless teams in the Premier League so far.
This creates a chance to lift spirits after an underwhelming start for a goalless Wolves side in 2025/26.
The visitors have suffered a similar beginning with convincing 3-0 and 5-1 losses against Sunderland and Chelsea respectively.
Many fans will see this match as a free hit, little more than a distraction which might be a factor behind a poor recent record in the competition for Wolves.
Old Gold suffering League Cup blues
Despite winning the cup twice in its first 14 years (73/74 and 79/80), Wolves have failed to progress to a semi-final since and only reached one quarter-final.
That single progression to the last 8 came to an end in 2023 at the City Ground after being beaten on penalties by Nottingham Forest amidst Morgan Gibbs-White’s celebrations.
Losing 7 of their last 8 shootouts, penalties are unfortunately not a strong point for Wolves in recent years.
Not the ‘Mickey Mouse’ cup
The League Cup also faces the issue of being inferior to a more prestigious and historic competition in the F.A Cup which feels more of a priority to fans and players.
This takes very little away from what lifting the trophy would mean to Wolves, especially after seeing Newcastle’s triumph earlier this year.
It goes without saying that a League Cup victory would be one of the greatest Wolves days since Andy Gray’s winner against Forest in the final, nearly half a century ago.
Wolves were heavy underdogs that day at Wembley when they denied Nottingham Forest a third successive League Cup to join their European Cups of 79’ and 80’.
Vitor Peirera’s men are a long way away from that but starting with a win against the Hammers, the mood improves around Molineux and a place in the third round will await the Wolves.
Article contributed by Gabriel Mills
