West Brom 0 Wolves 2 (Neto 38, Cunha 78)
Stylish finishes in each half from Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha ended Wolves’ 28-year wait for a win at the Hawthorns, as the Old Gold showed their quality during a lively Black Country derby.
After soaking up early pressure from the hosts, not for the first time this season Wolves were devastating on the counter attack, as Matt Doherty fed Pedro Neto, who came inside and fired low, back across the goalkeeper to make it advantage Old Gold before the break.
The fourth round tie was then put beyond doubt when Maximilian Kilman clipped Mathues Cunha in behind the Albion defence and the Brazilian fired home, between the goalkeeper’s legs, to send the travelling 4,000 supporters into raptures. A win at the Hawthorns and a place in the fifth round secured during an eventful Sunday morning derby.
Old Gold supporters had been starved of the Black Country derby over the past decade, so were intent on making their mark from the start, producing a tribal entrance for Gary O’Neil’s players, who had to be at their battling best, as the home side created the better chances early on, but Jose Sa comfortably caught headers from both Brandon Thomas-Asante and Jed Wallace.
Wolves had to settle down, which they did from that moment and, although Cunha missed the target with his two efforts, dragging wide and blazing Mario Lemina’s cross over the bar, they were signs that they were growing into it. Still, they were grateful for the block of former Baggies man Craig Dawson close to the goal line, as he kept out John Swift’s effort.
As the half progressed Wolves solidified, denying Albion less space in behind, thanks in large part to the industry of Tommy Doyle and Lemina in the midfield. While chances were at a premium, it suited the Old Gold to get a grip of the cup tie.
Keeping it goalless had been crucial, and when Wolves had their one chance to show their quality, they did it. Not only did Doherty win the first ball from a West Brom corner, the Irishman sent Neto scampering clear and once he cut inside, and recovered from a heavy touch, the wide man fired low, back across himself to send the packed away stand at the other end of the ground wild. Advantage Wolves at the break.
Half-time | West Brom 0-1 Wolves
With that fine Neto strike still fresh in the memory, O’Neil’s side started the second period strongly and Lemina headed a Doherty cross into the hands of Josh Griffiths. At the other end, expert defending from Kilman, who got himself between the ball and Thomas-Asante before he could get a shot away, kept Wolves ahead.
As the contest entered the final 20, both sides had opportunities to change the complexion of the game but passed them up. First, Toti crafted an opening for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, faking his shot and creating space, but the midfielder curled just wide. For the Albion, their chance fell to Thomas-Asante on the edge of the box, but he was leaning back and fired over the bar.
The tie, unsurprisingly, wasn’t without fiery moments, and Wallace on Tommy Doyle, then Kyle Bartley on Cunha, were cynical challenges, both earning yellow cards, attempting to halt Wolves, who were a constant threat on the counter attack.
However, there was nothing the hosts could do when Kilman clipped a ball over the top for Cunha to run on to, and after beating the Albion defenders to the ball, the Brazilian was composed as he rolled the ball between the legs of Griffiths and into the net. He soaked in the applause from the away fans as Wolves, for the first time in the tie, looked truly comfortable.
The celebrations from that goal didn’t last however, as incidents in the stands brought the game to a temporary halt for more than 30 minutes. Once play resumed, Wolves got back to work, and did so professionally, repelling Albion’s late push, which saw Swift shoot at Sa.
On the break, O'Neil's men still looked a threat and Cunha’s stinging drive needed turning behind by Griffiths, but the corner gave the Old Gold an opportunity to slow the game down and see out the victory which ended that long wait for a win at the Hawthorns. Redemption, finally.
Full-time | West Brom 0-2 Wolves
West Brom | Griffiths, Furlong, Kipre (Pieters 78), Bartley (Taylor 78), Townsend (Pipa 78), Mowatt, Yokuslu, Chalobah (Fellows 68), Swift, Wallace, Thomas-Asante.
Unused subs | Palmer, Malcolm, Whitwell, Hall, Heard.
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Dawson, Toti, Doherty, Lemina, Doyle, Bellegarde (Ait-Nouri 70), Neto (Chirewa 70), Cunha.
Unused subs | Bentley, King, S Bueno, H Bueno, Griffiths, Hodge, Fraser.
