McGhee backs under fire Jones

McGhee knows all about the pressure Dave Jones is under at Molineux and the difference a few key injuries can make.

He was similarly hampered when he took tonight's Withdean visitors to the brink of the top flight after succeeding former England manager Graham Taylor In 1996-97, while Albion were staving off relegation from the Football League with a last day draw at Hereford, McGhee guided Wolves to third in Division One.

They were pipped for automatic promotion and then lost to Albion's arch-rivals Crystal Palace in the play-offs.

It was a case of what might have been for McGhee. He also steered Wanderers to the semi-finals of the FA Cup before leaving in November 1998.

"The most important event for me came in my first full season, when we finished third," McGhee reflected.

"I spent the money we had on a couple of central defenders, Keith Curle and Adrian Williams. Neither of them played until January and yet we still managed to finish third. I am convinced that had those two played we would have been promoted to the Premier League then.

"As far as I am concerned I went very close with Wolves. After that it was very difficult and we were never quite as competitive again during my time there, but it is still something I relished.

"Of anything I've ever done in football to say I was manager of Wolves is a fanastic thing to be able to say. I loved my time there. I loved the area and I've got nothing but fond memories. Obviously I wasn't pleased to leave. I was disappointed to leave, but I enjoyed my time there enormously. I wouldn't swap it."

Wolves arrive at Withdean without a win in seven games and a place and three points below Albion, but McGhee is confident Jones will turn things around.

"His injury problems are disastrous for him at the moment and you hope that people see that. They don't always, because people lose patience at a club like that quickly.

"But I think they have got enough knowledge and faith in Dave to know he knows what he is doing and that if it is not going 100 per cent right at the moment it is probably not to do with him but to do with circumstances.

"Wolves are a club, particularly at this level, where supporters expect them to win every single game they play, regardless of who it is against, regardless of whether it is home or away.

"They see themselves as a club that belong in the top echelons and deserve to be playing in the top echelons. You have got to earn that. They did last year and unfortunately were unable to retain it.

"At the moment, like any team, whether you are top of the Premier League or bottom of the Conference, if you have injuries to key players you are not going to be as effective and Wolves are suffering from that at the moment.

"I am absolutely convinced their squad strength is such that if they get these players back fit they can still be in the shake-up at the end of the season.

"They are starting to get one or two back so they will be a more difficult proposition, as they showed by getting a 3-3 draw against Wigan. They scored three goals against Wigan, which we couldn't do, so we have to give them the upmost respect."

Meanwhile, lifelong Wolves fan Dave Watson does not want Wanderers to pick up their first win of the season at Withdean tonight.

He would rather the match ended in a draw, because he has split loyalties.

Watson senior is the father of Albion defender Paul, currently sidelined following major back surgery.

"I started supporting Wolves when I was a teenager," said Dave, 57. "I don't see them much now because I spend all the time watching Paul or his brother, Jim, who plays for Sidley."

Dave hopes to be at the game tonight, even though his son won't be involved.

"It was brilliant two seasons ago up at Molineux, when Paul played against Wolves for Brighton in a 1-1 draw.

"That was the first time I had been there.

"A draw would suit me again. Albion always do well against us. Paul also played in the 4-1 win at Withdean last time, so anything could happen."