Wolves claimed the Midlands bragging rights thanks to a hard-fought 3-1 win over West Brom, securing a vital three points in the process.
In a pulsating derby the home side put in an impressive battling performance, typified by the three Steves – Hunt, Ward and Fletcher – who rarely gave the visiting players any time on the ball.
Wolves’ early pressing paid off in the 15th minute as midfielder Jamie O’Hara’s free kick from the corner of the box was tipped away by Scott Carson.
But from Stephen Hunt’s resulting corner the ball skimmed off the chest of Adlene Guedioura and fell kindly for Steven Fletcher who blasted in from close range.
Guedioura then grabbed the second goal of the game in the 28th minute.
The goal came again from a Hunt corner, this time finding Fletcher at the far post, who nodded back into the centre for the Frenchman to volley home.
West Brom’s best moment of the first half fell to striker Peter Odemwingie, who did well to skip past Michael Mancienne and George Elokobi and drive a shot dangerously wide.
Wolves though went three up inside two minutes of the restart. West Brom defender Abdoulaye Meite made a complete mess of a through ball, and it let in Fletcher to slot his second past Carson.
But West Brom then upped their game and gave Wolves some nervy moments as they looked to get back into the game.
They pulled one back in the 54th minute, Odemwingie converting a penalty after Guedioura fouled Jerome Thomas in the box.
A magnificent one-handed save from Wayne Hennessey denied Simon Cox’s first-time shot, before Thomas burst into the box for a chance, but this time the crossbar came to Wolves’ rescue.
Wolves could have grabbed a fourth through Stephen Ward who dragged a shot wide and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who forced a good save from Carson, but it mattered not as Mick McCarthy’s men held on.
The massive victory for Wolves takes them out of the relegation zone – with Blackpool swapping places with them in the bottom three – with two games left of the season.
Sun 8 May, 2011
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