Wolves vs West Brom – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday, one of the most intense rivalries in English football will continue as Wolverhampton Wanderers host West Bromwich Albion at Molineux for the Black Country derby in the Championship.

The Old Gold recently faced defeat in the EFL Cup at the hands of Everton, while the Baggies have had an entire week to recuperate since their second-tier encounter with Queens Park Rangers at The Hawthorns ended in a draw.

Match overview

This weekend, Wolves will return to Molineux after participating in four consecutive away fixtures across all competitions, the latest resulting in a third-round EFL Cup elimination by Premier League side Everton.

Nonetheless, Cesar Peixoto’s team has begun their first season back in the second tier in eight years fairly well, recently securing a league win against Sheffield United with a last-minute goal from Raul Jimenez.

Only three of Wolves’ nine competitive matches thus far have taken place in the Black Country, and with new head coach Peixoto at the helm, the side remains unbeaten at home (W2 D1) while scoring nine goals in this run.

Due to a postponement, the Old Gold has one fewer match played compared to their rivals vying for promotion, but they occupy a respectable seventh position in the Championship standings, trailing West Ham United by three points at the top.

Encounters between these two fierce rivals have been infrequent lately, but Wolves currently enjoy bragging rights following their victory over the Baggies in the FA Cup in January 2024, thanks to goals from Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha.

This Sunday, West Brom will be welcomed back to Molineux alongside their fans for the first time since February 2012, when Peter Odemwingie scored a hat-trick in a memorable 5-1 win that left a lasting impression on the Old Gold supporters.

The Baggies even produced and distributed DVD highlights of that memorable match, illustrating how much has changed since their last visit with fans to their arch-rivals’ ground. Nonetheless, Albion still cherish pleasant recent memories from this venue.

Instead of filling the Billy Wright stand, West Brom supporters gathered in front of their televisions to watch Matheus Pereira replicate Odemwingie’s magic in January 2021, netting twice during a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Although the balance of power in the Black Country has shifted somewhat since the late 2010s, the Baggies certainly cannot be viewed as underdogs this weekend, as James Morrison’s squad sits atop the Championship table with 14 points.

The current head coach, Morrison, was operating in the Molineux midfield during that heavy defeat from 14 years ago, and he will be hoping for a similarly effective performance from the likes of Rabby Nzingoula and Jayson Molumby this Sunday.

Team News

Wolves faced a significant injury setback during their defeat against Everton, with talisman Raul Jimenez suffering a knee issue.

Head coach Peixoto has confirmed that the Mexican striker will be unavailable until after the international break, resulting in Adam Armstrong likely leading the offensive line in the derby.

Rafiki Said, who made the move from Standard Liege over the summer, has yet to make his debut as he remains sidelined with a muscle injury.

Bertrand Traore earned his first Wolves appearance at the Hill Dickinson Stadium earlier this week and scored during his only previous encounter with the Baggies in December 2020.

West Brom continues to manage an absence at right-back, with Nolan Galves currently sidelined due to a knee complaint.

Brayann Pereira returns from suspension and could be in line for a start in defense, although it’s plausible that Morrison opts to keep Callum Styles in the right-back position for this important clash.

Wolverhampton Wanderers probable starting XI:

Sa; Tchatchoua; Djiga, Krejci, Bueno; Andre, Munetsi, James, Lopez, Mane; Armstrong

West Bromwich Albion probable starting XI:

O’Leary; Styles, Phillips, Campbell, Townsend; Molumby, Nzingoula, Whitwell, Price; Morgan, Heggebo

The upcoming Black Country derby at Molineux, with fans present for the first time in over 14 years, is anticipated to be a momentous event on Sunday afternoon.

Currently, Wolves and West Brom appear fairly evenly matched on the field, suggesting a possibility of a frenetic and chaotic draw.