Jim McCalliog compares Wolves sides

Former Wolves midfielder Jim McCalliog reckons Mick McCarthy's side remind him of the Class of 1973.

McCarthy's side hit top spot for two hours after their second successive win in yesterday's 2-0 win against Fulham, before Manchester City's 3-2 victory at Bolton took them to the head of the Premier League table.

McCalliog was a key part of the Wolves team who last went top with successive wins over Norwich and Sheffield United, the Scotland international scoring in both games alongside the late Derek Dougan.

Now 64, McCalliog doesn't remember anything about the games in question.

But the former midfielder turned publican, who numbers Chelsea and Manchester United among his old clubs, believes the current team ring bells with his ex-team-mates.

McCalliog, who is now based in Ayrshire but was at Celtic for the pre-season friendly which Wolves won 2-0, said: "I've been absolutely thrilled watching the team in these last two games.

"When I saw the way they celebrated the goals, they were so happy together and that reminded me of us. The spirit is amazing – they really get on with each other.

"I don't see them struggling at all this season – they're playing some really good stuff and long may it continue."

McCalliog, who is planning on being at Frank Munro's funeral on Wednesday, reckons the players of 38 years ago perhaps didn't believe they could carry on their winning form.

He said: "I don't think we felt out of place at the top, but I'm not sure we thought we could sustain it.

"We were a team coming through at the time. But with the way we were going, we thought we were going in the right direction.

"I suppose we were a few players short of challenging for the title, but we came out of the starting blocks really well.

"The Doog was buzzing and I started the season well, Dave Wagstaffe was the best crosser of a ball I ever saw, he was superb, and John Richards reminded me of Shane Long now – he chased everything.

"But I thought Bill McGarry might have signed a few more players as the season went on because our team more or less stayed the same."

McCalliog, who missed the next game at Southampton – a 2-1 defeat – with a badly bruised shin sustained against the Blades, has mixed feelings with how things went that campaign.

While Wolves went on to lift the League Cup, McCalliog was out of contention after falling out with manager Bill McGarry before being eventually sold to Manchester United, who were relegated that season.

He said: "I had a fall-out with Bill McGarry – he dropped me and never told me he was doing it, he just the read the team out in the dressing room and I wasn't in it.

"I thought that was wrong because I had captained the club in the UEFA Cup final when Mike Bailey was injured."