Carling Cup match trouble was predicted

A Notts County fan attacked with a brick after the team's Carling Cup defeat by Wolverhampton said stewards were aware trouble was imminent.

Lois Brough, 78, from Clifton, needed surgery to her face after supporters' coaches were attacked.

She was with a group of fans travelling with Premiere Coaches to Wolves' Molineux ground on Tuesday night.

Wolves said there had been more than 300 stewards at the ground the night of the match.

Mrs Brough said she was waiting outside the stadium when a steward warned her trouble was imminent.

As Notts County fans were leaving a coach park, youths began throwing bricks at the vehicles.

Three supporters' coaches were damaged, one severely, as they were driven out of the coach park near Wolves' Molineux ground.

Mrs Brough was hit in the face with a brick when it smashed through the window. Wolves said it will be contacting everyone on board to apologise for the incident.

"When I look now and see the solid brick that knocked me out I wondered to myself if it had been on my temple it would have killed me... it's frightening", Mrs Brough said.

"The steward said to us 'you'd better move'.

"He said 'the fighting's going to break out at any minute, you don't want to be here'.

"It's a high price to pay for going to a football match. It was unprovoked."

The match, which Wolverhampton Wanderers won 4-2 - was a stewards-only fixture with no police presence.

Coach company, Premiere, claimed it was told a police escort would be there.

'Cowardly' attack

Matt Grayson from Wolves said: "We're just completely shocked, angered and disgusted at the actions of the few mindless and moronic individuals.

"The vast majority of Wolves fans are decent supporters...the minority bring shame on the football club.

"If they turn out to be Wolves supporters they'll be banned from Molineux."

The club said there were more than 300 stewards on duty at the ground.

Premiere managing director, Steve Greaves, said: "We received directions from West Midlands Police via Nottinghamshire Police. It does say on police-free fixtures coaches will not be met.

"We as a company were never told this was a police-free fixture and therefore we went to the allotted point to meet the escort, which never materialised."

He said attack had caused about £20,000 of damage.

However, West Midlands Police said it had pre-arranged a stewards-only fixture with both clubs.

An investigation into the incident has started, he added.

Notts County's chief executive James Rodwell described the attack as "cowardly" and said the club would be working with Wolves and the police to help catch those responsible.