Wolves and West Bromwich Albion meet at Molineux on Sunday in the Black Country derby, the first league meeting between the sides since May 2021 and the first at Molineux in front of supporters since 2012. The two post-Covid derbies in 2020-21 were played behind closed doors, and Albion took four points from a possible six against Wolves that season but were still relegated.
The fixture has deep roots. Albion won the first two meetings in the FA Cup in 1886 and 1887, while Wolves won the first league encounter 2-1 in December 1888, in the inaugural Football League season. Across the entire 138-year history of the fixture, Albion hold a narrow lead with 55 league wins to Wolves’ 52.
Recent years have favoured Albion. Since the start of the new millennium, there have been 18 league and cup derbies, with Albion winning 10 and Wolves four. Wolves did win the most recent meeting, 2-0 at The Hawthorns in the FA Cup fourth round in January 2024. That game was halted for 38 minutes after police were assaulted, missiles were thrown and flares were set off, and this week the two clubs issued a joint statement stressing the need for the rivalry to remain friendly.
The derby has produced numerous notable moments. For Wolves, Steve Bull scored his first derby goal in 1989, Iwan Roberts scored a hat-trick at The Hawthorns in 1996, George Ndah scored twice in 2001 after an inspired Keith Andrews performance, and Steven Fletcher scored twice in May 2011 to help keep Mick McCarthy’s side in the Premier League. For Albion, Darren Bradley scored a 35-yard screamer in 1993, Bob Taylor struck a late Hawthorns winner in 1995, Jordao was the Molineux matchwinner in December 2001, and Carlos Vela scored an injury-time equaliser in Roy Hodgson’s first game in charge in 2011.
The most painful recent memory for Wolves is February 2012, when Albion won 5-1 at Molineux. Peter Odemwingie scored a hat-trick and Keith Andrews scored against his old club, and McCarthy lost his job the following day. It remains Wolves’ joint second-worst defeat in the fixture, bettered only by an 8-0 home loss in 1894. Sunday’s game is the first chance since then for a home Molineux crowd to see Wolves attempt to avenge it.
Albion head coach James Morrison has prepared his players for the occasion with extra pre-match preparation from a club historian. Morrison, who played in five Black Country derbies including the 5-1 win, said: “These are the games you want to be involved in. The outcome can be a real positive for the players and myself. You can cement a special place with performances in these games.”
Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto is taking charge of his first Black Country derby. He said he was aware of what the fixture means to fans and told his players: “Play with passion but also with your head. I’m very competitive. I don’t like to lose.”
There has also been pre-match discussion over Wolves striker Raul Jimenez. Peixoto ruled him out earlier this week with a knee injury, but Morrison hinted that he half-expects Jimenez to feature, saying: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Peixoto has assured Albion that the injury is real, saying: “I don’t play mind games.”
On the pitch, Wolves go into the game three points behind Albion in the early Championship table with a game in hand. Wolves have already played one derby this season, a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City a fortnight ago, when they conceded a comical own goal after a mix-up between Jose Sa and Jackson Tchatchoua.