Recent Opening Day History

21st June 2017

Wolves face a tough test kicking off the new Sky Bet Championship campaign against Middlesbrough, but will be looking to maintain a decent run on the opening weekend in recent years.

The last seven years have seen Wolves win four of their opening day league games, drawing two and losing only one, away at Leeds in 2012.

It is only Wolves’ second home kick-off in seven seasons, but in the previous one – also at home to a side relegated from the Premier League – Norwich were overcome 1-0 at Molineux in 2014 thanks to a header from Dave Edwards.

Other victories in recent seasons have come away at Blackburn (twice), and at home to Stoke, with the draws against Preston and Rotherham.

The recent run on the opening day was in stark contrast to the previous sequence, with Wolves going a full ten fixtures without beginning their season with a victory.

There was no three point return on the first day between Steve Bull’s winner at Manchester City in 1999, and the Dave Jones free kick and Steven Fletcher goal which helped secure a 2-1 success against Stoke in 2010.

Continuing the theme of fluctuating first day fortunes, that win at Manchester City was actually the fourth in succession for Wolves on opening weekend.

That streak included Bull’s hat trick at Grimsby on the opening day of the 1996/97 campaign, and Robbie Keane’s’ debut day brace at Norwich the following season.

Here are all Wolves’ opening results from the last 20 years:

2016/17 (Championship): (A) Rotherham 2-2

2015/16 (Championship) (A) Blackburn 2-1

2014/15 (Championship) (H) Norwich 1-0

2013/14 (League One) (A) Preston 0-0

2012/13 (Championship) (A) Leeds 1-2

2011/12 (Premier League) (A) Blackburn 2-1

2010/11 (Premier League) (H) Stoke 2-1

2009/10 (Premier League) (H) West Ham 0-2

2008/09 (Championship) (A) Plymouth 2-2

2007/08 (Championship) (H) Watford 1-2

2006/07 (Championship) (A) Plymouth 0-0