The Black Country derby awaits Wolves this weekend, as they travel to the Hawthorns looking to book their place in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup.
#1 In both camps
Wolves have been boosted by the news that Rayan Ait-Nouri will be back and available for selection for the first time this calendar year for his club. The left-back played all three AFCON games for Algeria, but following their exit from the tournament on Tuesday, he’s returning home and comes into contention. He provides further competition to the left-wing-back role, which is currently held by Matt Doherty, with fit again Hugo Bueno also eyeing an opportunity. Boubacar Traore and Hee Chan Hwang continue to be unavailable, however, with Mali progressing at AFCON and South Korea doing the same in the Asian Cup. Pablo Sarabia has a knock he’s expected to shake off, while Joao Gomes sits out the final game of his three-match ban, following his red card at Brentford at the start of January. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was Gary O’Neil’s first substitute at Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday night and will be pushing for a start at the Hawthorns. Youngsters Tawanda Chirewa and Nathan Fraser have been used to good effect off the bench recently and will hope for more minutes at the weekend.
West Brom will also be without a pair of internationals, with Grady Diangana and Semi Ajayi representing their countries at AFCON. Diangana and DR Congo face Egypt on Sunday night, with Ajayi’s Nigeria taking on Cameroon on Saturday. The Baggies were dealt a blow when Carlos Corberan confirmed that Jayson Molumby is out for at least three months with a foot injury. Molumby’s fellow midfielders Okay Yokuslu and Nathaniel Chalobah have also picked up knocks in recent weeks, with the former being withdrawn early last week, so his fitness will be assessed. Josh Maja (torn ligaments) and Matt Phillips (hamstring) are out with long-term injuries, so will not feature at the weekend. They did move for former Old Gold man Andi Weimann from Bristol City earlier this month, but the Austrian is cup tied for the weekend.
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 25, 2024
#2 Coming into it
Wolves head into Sunday’s derby unbeaten in six matches in all competitions, following Monday night’s goalless draw at Brighton. Ten points from 12 in the Premier League has been accompanied with a double header with Brentford, who were defeated in the replay after extra time in round three, with Matheus Cunha striking the decision blow from the penalty spot. Consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League give the Old Gold further encouragement.
Wolves’ last three | D 0-0 Brighton (A) – W 3-2 Brentford (H) – D 1-1 Brentford (A)
West Brom booked their place in the fourth round with a comfortable win over non-league Aldershot Town three weeks ago. At the Hawthorns, Corberan’s side are strong, winning their last four, including against Blackburn Rovers last time out at home. They’re struggling to maintain that form on the road however, and lost 2-0 at Norwich City last weekend, having narrowly lost at Middlesbrough and Swansea City prior to that.
West Brom’s last three | L 2-0 Norwich (A) – W 4-1 Blackburn (H) – W 4-1 Aldershot (H)
#3 Since last time
West Brom 1-1 Wolves | 3rd May 2021
The last time the two clubs met was at the Hawthorns but it was played behind closed doors. Fabio Silva’s hugely deflected effort looped over Sam Johnstone to give the Old Gold the lead on the stroke of half-time. The hosts levelled after the break thanks to Mbaye Diagne’s powerful header. The draw left Wolves in 12th, while West Brom remained deep in relegation trouble, ten points behind Newcastle United in 17th.
Wolves | Patricio, Semedo, Coady, Saiss, Ait-Nouri, Dendoncker, Neves, Otasowie, Vitinha, Adama, Silva.
Of the Wolves eleven day, only Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri could feature at the Hawthorns this weekend. Fabio Silva remains at the club, but is out on loan at Rangers, but the other eight starters that day have since departed. Of West Brom’s last six that day, Darnell Furlong, Ajayi, Kyle Bartley and Conor Townsend remain as the club, likewise Yokuslu in the midfield.
West Brom | Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, O’Shea, Townsend, Gallagher, Yokuslu, Maitland-Niles, Pereira, Diagne.
#4 In the media
Mike Taylor of BBC Radio WM says the display at Brighton should tee Wolves up nicely for the trip to the Hawthorns.
Taylor said: “Perhaps you had to be there, or at least be heavily invested in one of the teams, to really feel it. Wolves’ goalless draw at Brighton was dismissed as dull by some reports, and there was no show stopping moment, no goal-of-the-month contender, no major flare-up or VAR controversy. But as a signpost of where Wolves are heading, and perhaps where Premier League football generally is heading, it was a compelling watch.
“Brighton were a blur from the start, in the manner that so bewildered Wolves in previous seasons. Wolves responded with composed, efficient defending – so effective that Jose Sa was rarely extended – and increasingly turned the fire back on their hosts, arguably creating the clearer chances. Wolves’ next challenge is to show they can keep the same composure in that environment. They will be confident.”
West Brom correspondent from the Express & Star Lewis Cox believes the Baggies can cause Wolves problems on their own patch.
Cox said: “Albion’s home form of late has been excellent. Since Carlos Corberan’s appointment in October 2022, no Championship side has taken more points. Albion have lost at home just four times since. Away has been more of a struggle, especially of late, but the Baggies will fancy their chances of causing an upset on their own patch, where their form has been formidable.
“The experience and youth of Jed Wallace and Tom Fellows out wide could really cause Wolves problems. Ex-Wolves man Wallace is a big-game player and his delivery can hurt any defence. In young Fellows, 20, Albion have a bit of an unknown not guaranteed to start, but somebody who could cause the visitors all manner of issues with his lightning speed and accurate delivery. Albion don’t tend to create a bucket-load of openings and, against opposition of better calibre, will have to be ready to convert the big moments that come their way.”
