"THEY can forget the title outside Bolton. The rest of us are playing for the right to go up with them!" So said Wolves boss Mark McGhee after Saturday's 3-0 thrashing at Burnden Park.

Once the hostilities had ended - this was the fixture that witnessed the infamous "War of the Wanderers" - Colin Todd's side set about crushing their arch-rivals in such a ruthless, comprehensive fashion that they shook the First Division to the core.

John McGinlay, who had taunted the Wolves fans in the warm-up, headed his 20th goal of the season, Keith Curle put through his own goal and Nathan Blake finished the rout. But the men from Molineux were never in with a shout.

The only downside, as Wanderers went nine points clear at the top, was the repercussions of the mass brawl at the start of the game which Lancaster referee David Allison described later: "At two minutes past three I gave a goal kick and all hell broke loose."

10 YEARS AGO: January 20, 1992

TONY Kelly took the rap for the own goal blunder that cost Wanderers two precious points from a difficult home clash with Hartlepool.

The midfield ace, who earlier in the season conceded an equally embarrassing own goal against his former club Wigan, stunned the Burnden crowd when his angled backpass beat Dave Felgate six minutes from time when Wanderers were leading 2-1.

Despite going desperately close to clinching a late winner, Wanderers came from behind only to be left counting the cost of more dropped points, which saw them slip to eighth in the table.

They were also cursing Hartlepool keeper Martin Hodge who played a blinder.

"It was unfortunate the keeper had a stormer," said frustrated boss Phil Neal, "but a lack of communication between two experienced players has cost us two points."

Loan star Andy Walker, who scored with the first touch on his debut at Exeter, scored one and could have had a hat-trick.

25 YEARS AGO: January 22, 1977

ACE marksman Neil Whatmore, whose late equaliser at Everton had put Wanderers just 90 minutes away fom the League Cup Final, took his season's total to 17 when he scored two more in the 3-1 derby triumph over Blackburn at Burnden Park.

Peter Reid got the other as Ian Greaves' side took advantage of Chelsea's disappointing home draw with Orient to go within a point of the Pensioners at the top of Division Two.

Greaves, who had banned his players from talking about the League Cup, described the 1-1 midweek draw at Goodison Park as "a victory" since that was how he perceived a draw in the away game of a two-leg tie.

Wanderers were still drooling over the performance of Paul Jones, who had the Toffees' danger man Bob Latchford in his pocket from start to finish.

Meanwhile, winger Willie Morgan had stirred up a storm with critical comments about his former Manchester United manager, Tommy Docherty.

The Reds' boss was seeking legal advce with a view to suing for defamation.