Wolverhampton Wanderers

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

This was probably the most comprehensive 90-minute performance Wolves have produced so far this season.

The team has not fully clicked yet, and there is still a long way to go, but that is what makes this result so encouraging.

Wolves are showing signs of becoming a side capable of controlling matches in different ways, even while there is still plenty of room to improve.

The 1-0 scoreline does not tell the full story.

West Brom had more possession, but Wolves controlled the parts of the game that mattered. They pressed with purpose, won the important duels, created the better chances and defended their lead with impressive discipline.

That is a significant step forward.

There was a clear plan from Cesar Peixoto, and the players carried it out with real belief.

Wolves pressed high when the opportunity was there, but also knew when to drop into a more organised shape. West Brom were rarely allowed to build any meaningful momentum, managing only 0.27 expected goals and one shot on target against Jose Sa.

At the other end, Wolves created 1.96 expected goals, had six shots on target and repeatedly caused problems from set-pieces.

Fer Lopez's winning goal was also a product of the team's aggressive pressing. Wolves forced the mistake and punished it.

The contribution of the crowd should not be overlooked. Molineux was loud from the start and stayed fully engaged through the tense final stages.

This was the first Black Country derby at the stadium in 14 years with supporters present, and the fans made sure the players understood exactly what the occasion meant. Their backing helped Wolves maintain their intensity when tired legs and nerves began to show.

Kieran Trippier also explained that John Ruddy, who returned to Wolves this summer after a successful first spell, spoke to the squad before the game about the importance of the derby.

Trippier said Ruddy's words helped inspire the team, adding that, despite playing in many derbies, this one was "certainly up there".

Wolves now have 14 points from seven games and are beginning to look like a side that expects to win.

This felt like more than three points. It felt like a statement of intent.

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We asked for your thoughts after Wolverhampton Wanderers' 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in Sunday's derby encounter.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Dave: Absolutely battered the Baggies, rock solid at the back and although we didn't dominate possession, we created almost all of the chances. They never looked like scoring, even from set-pieces. Only their GK kept the score respectable. Convincing victory even without two of our best players (Raul and Krejci).

Brian: Much better, hard work, tough tackles, making chances. This is exactly what the fans want to see and needs to be the standard every week.

Robert: Wolves were brilliant for the vast majority of the game. Every player was on the money from the kick-off. Need to repeat this level regularly to win promotion though.

Simon: Great high pressure performance which provided the right result. However Wolves, at home, need to convert their chances when they're on top, to avoid nervy final minutes. They also need to learn to stop playing too deep when going ahead, instead continue persevering with the high tempo football to reap the rewards they deserve.

James: Wolves did well. Limited Albion threat to a minimum. Scored the important goal that wins the tight local derby.

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom fans

Jonathan: Derby loss hurts but response is more important. O'Leary superb. When facing high press defenders need to know when to get rid. Quicker interplay up front needed to create chances. Potential is there for rest of season.

Paul: We were never in the game, you could say we froze. Our young players will learn from this game and hopefully will return to how we have played this season.

Mac: Poor passing, no person with any aggression for a derby, no passion, no-one with any idea how to score a goal, if it wasn't for O'Leary or could have been 4-0.

Peter: We were the better side and lost by a stupid mistake by Phillips. But that's football for you.

Stephen: Midfield needs sorting, Price corner kicks are not good enough, need to play a winger. You can't play Price and Whitwell in the same team. Styles need to be down the left, makes room for Price, gives him room to operate. Totally out-played and out-fought.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport England

Image source, Adam Fradgley - Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion boss James Morrison summed up the defining moment of the 2026 Black Country derby by admitting: "You can't gift goals like that."

But he then threw a protective arm round the shoulder of the culprit, defender Nat Phillips, whose poor backpass let in Wolves frontman Fer Lopez for the game's only goal..

"He owned up to his mistake," said Morrison. "But Nat's been immense over the last couple of weeks.

"We had loads of time. There was a gap to play the ball forwards and we turned it down. That's what I'm disappointed in.

"In games like this, you have to be able to deal with the pressure. We just didn't have that belief. We went backwards and we did that too many times.

"We caused our own anxiety and that gave them a lift. They had the belief they could come after us and get success from it.

"I was delighted to get to half-time at 0-0. Max O'Leary made some fantastic saves and I thought we can have a reset. But we went backwards. Maybe it was just a bit of being safe rather than getting forwards and imposing ourselves.

"We made too many mistakes and you can't do that in a game like this.

"We didn't have the quality at the top end of the pitch and that's something we're going to have to address. But mistakes happen. Now I want to see a reaction."

The only frustration for the Albion boss after suffering only his second defeat in eight Championship games this season - and only their third in 19 league games going back to February - is that they must now wait until 10 October after the extended international break before they host their next game, another derby against Birmingham City.

The Black Country derby is back as Wolves and West Bromwich Albion face each other at Molineux on Sunday (12:00 BST).

Both find themselves in the play-off spots as it stands, though the hosts could be out of them by close of play on Saturday, and whoever wins will not only get bragging rights but will get to go in front of the other on the table.

• Wolves have only won one of their last eight league games against West Brom (D3 L4), a 3-1 Premier League win in May 2011.

• West Brom have won both of their last two league visits to Wolves, last winning three in a row in February 1931.

• Wolves have won three of their last five league games (D1 L1), as many as their previous 43 beforehand (W3 D13 L27).

• West Brom have won four of their last seven away league games (D1 L2), as many as their previous 39 beforehand (W4 D14 L21).

• Only Southampton (5) have scored more goals in the final 10 minutes of Championship games this season than Wolves (4), with two of Raúl Jiménez's three league goals this term coming in the 90th minute.

Image source, Getty Images

Two silver linings for their fans were identified when Wolves were relegated from the Premier League.

No longer being exposed to VAR, obviously, was viewed as a release. The other was the return of the Black Country derby.

That framing has been just fine until now, with the day close at hand, a more nuanced picture is clear.

The derby will be a great addition to Wolves' calendar, indeed may play an outsize part in their season by giving them a huge injection of positive energy, if they win.

The unspoken part is that the inverse is also true. For some years Wolves have been able to look down from the Premier League at Albion. Losing to them now they are back on the same level would make the loss of that status even harder to accept.

This week I am reminded of a much-loved figure among local football media, as this will be the first Molineux derby with fans present in decades for which, alas, he will not be with us.

He could have been gently teased by the mere premise of this article, since he would take issue with exactly where the Black Country even is: "we are not," he might insist with a glinting eye, "from the same place as 'Them'."

But they are in practice, all the towns and cities of the West Midlands having long ago expanded enough to bump against one another.

Sometimes it can be hard to tell when you have left one district and entered the next. The dividing lines in the region can appear blurred. But not on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolverhampton Wanderers have named Richard Walker as their new under-21s coach.

The 44-year-old moves up from a similar role with the club's under-18s to replace James Collins, who left Molineux in July.

Walker has been at Wolves for three years after joining from Stoke City in 2023.

As a player, he made more than 100 appearances for Crewe and also spent time with their rivals, Port Vale.

"We feel Richard possesses the right skills and experience to take us forward in the under-21s environment, which is critical in really finishing the players off before those final stages of playing the game professionally," said Wolves academy director Jonathan Hunter-Barrett.