Wolves 1 (Lopez 50) West Bromwich Albion 0
A first Black Country derby in front of supporters at Molineux in 14 years ended with Wolves claiming the local bragging rights as Fer Lopez pounced early in the second half to score the crucial goal.
The much-anticipated clash lived up to its billing, with Wolves doing everything to open the scoring before Lopez capitalised on a slip-up in the West Bromwich Albion defence, and Cesar Peixoto’s side were the ones to earn all three points to take them above their near rivals in the Championship table.
Wolves had been the dominant force in the opening 45 minutes but found Max O’Leary in inspired form between the Albion sticks. The first of his three big saves arrived on 12 minutes when he turned Nasser Djiga’s header on to the crossbar, before clearing before Andre or Rodrigo Gomes could squeeze home the rebound.
The goalkeeper then kept out Mateus Mane’s powerful drive at his near post and arguably saved his best for Marshall Munetsi, sticking out a strong arm to keep out his header, despite moving in the opposite direction.
Wolves had been wasteful in front of goal too, with Fer Lopez dragging wide from a Mane knockdown, while Albion offered very little – Isaac Price’s free-kick, which was a comfortable save for Jose Sa, was their only attempt of the opening 45.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 West Brom
If there was an element of frustration to not be ahead at the break, that was eradicated five minutes into the second period, courtesy of an Albion gift. In an attempt to play out from the back, Nat Phillips sold his goalkeeper short and Lopez nipped in to clip over O’Leary to put Wolves ahead.
Albion’s response was a set of free-kicks – Sa tipped one around the post, while Price fired one high into the South Bank. As for Wolves, Hugo Bueno slipped in Rodrigo Gomes but he was thwarted by O’Leary before the flag was raised.
With a one-goal lead in hand, Wolves sat deeper and deeper as the second half went on, with Albion launching several attacks into Sa’s penalty area, but the keeper’s goal remained unbreeched thanks to Old Gold players putting their bodies on the line to go into the international break with their biggest win of the season so far.
Full-time | Wolves 1-0 West Brom
Wolves | Sa, Trippier, Djiga, Toti, Bueno, Andre, Munetsi (James 78), Lopez (Doyle 73), Gomes (Neave 88), Mane (Bellegarde 73), Armstrong (Boubacar 88).
Unused subs | Virginia, Konan, Tchatchoua, Bertrand.
West Brom | O’Leary, Styles, Campbell, Phillips, Townsend, Whitwell (Nzingoula 61), Molumby (Collyer 84), Diakite, Price (Tunde 84), Morgan, Heggebo (Stewart 61).
Unused subs | Ingram, Mepham, Pereira, Bany, Horn Myhre.
