Matt Murray: Beating West Brom was a career highlight

An ‘awesome’ day which saw Jay Bothroyd memorably climb off the bench and grab the winner, it was what academy product Murray had dreamed of doing for years.

Having joined Wolves as a boy, he had experienced the Black Country derby many times beforehand, but this was his first playing a vital part in grabbing a huge victory.

It would also turn out to be his last because of injury – breaking his shoulder just before Wolves lost to the Baggies in the play-offs at the end of that season.

Still, Murray loved that triumph as he said: “I’d been involved in Black Country derbies from when I was about 16.

“I travelled to The Hawthorns when Kevin Kilbane whipped one over the wall and we got beat. I’d been sub under Dave Jones when they beat us and pipped us to the league.

“You just know how much it means to the Wolves fans, and there was a real hatred and intensity to this game.

“We’d been beaten by them 3-0 twice that season – we didn’t turn up at The Hawthorns and were poor in the FA Cup, when they left the carrier bags behind the goal and were doing the ‘easy’ clap.

“All that built up, so we came into this game and Mick McCarthy had us right at it. We knew if we got the win that it would send out a statement and cement our place for the play-offs.

“The additions Mick made to the squad made us that bit more competitive because when we played them earlier that season, it felt like men against boys. I didn’t turn up at The Hawthorns and was really disappointed with my performance.

“The build-up is like no other league game. You have to be in the ground a lot earlier than usual as the roads close before kick-off, so you feel the intensity and when you walk out for the warm-up, it hits you.

“On that matchday, I just remember looking at the boys and thinking we had to do it for the fans. It was awesome.”

As alluded to by Murray, Albion firmly had the beating of Wolves earlier in the campaign.

When it came to experience, Tony Mowbray’s side had the edge.

But McCarthy’s men, hurt by those losses, flat-out refused to let them make it three in a row.

Murray played a crucial part in clinching the three points, too, making a save which he can still ‘smell and feel’ to this day.

“In the other games, we froze as we were a young team. I was one of the older ones but still wasn’t that experienced,” he said. “Albion had battered us 3-0 and 3-0, so maybe they thought they’d come and do us again.

“They had good players – Jason Koumas, Curtis Davies, Neil Clement, Diomansy Kamara, Kevin Phillips – so they were an experienced side with a lot of knowhow.

“But we got among them and I was happy with my performance.

“The fans definitely played their part, and then Jay came on as sub and smashed it in. The roof came off and we had to hang on.

“Kamara had that late chance and I think it hit my shoulder. That was mad.

“I can still remember that. It’s almost like I can smell it, feel it – everything.

“It all went in slow motion.”

Now, Murray hopes Nuno Espirito Santo’s pack can experience that special feeling of winning a derby as they look to get their season back on track.

“You could just see what it meant. When you get a beating off the Albion, you just can’t wait for the next game against them to come. When you win, it’s a great feeling,” he added.

“Going into this game, neither team is in great form. With the way we’re playing at the moment, we’re still favourites, but the first goal in this game will be huge.

“Hopefully, we can have a good win to kick-start the season.”