Dan McNamara insists the fans inside Molineux will be left entertained on Sunday as his Wolves Women side try to replicate their stunning Black Country derby display from earlier this season.
The women’s first-team put eight without reply past West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns in October, before being knocked out of the Birmingham Challenge Cup at the semi-final stage by the same opposition a few weeks later.
After his side's title challenge faltered with a draw away at Hull City last time out, McNamara hopes his players will bounce back by putting in the kind of performance the supporters have been used to when they attempt to start another 10-game winning streak against the side from across the Black Country when hosting the Baggies at Molineux this weekend.
On preparing for a Black Country derby
“It's a difficult one, because in a normal season going to a relegation-threatened Hull on a very poor surface, a point is not a bad point. But in the grand scheme of things, with the standards and the small margins that the likes of Forest are setting this year, then it's disappointing.
“On reflection, we've had a look at it and we've taken 43 points from a possible 54, with 15 games unbeaten in the league. We've lost once all season. When you start to reel off stats like that, it starts to make you understand just what this group are doing yet again on a quarter of the running budgets of a couple of clubs within this league – they've been phenomenal again.
“Now the dust has settled, we've realized that we're on a great run and all eyes is now on West Brom, because we've said we don't want the season to fizzle out. We want to see if we can cement that second place, which will be a remarkable achievement.”
On returning to play at Molineux
“These are the games where you don't really need much introduction. We've had a great few years with regards to playing at Molineux and we've had some good results.
“They’re enjoyable memories and there's no better way to put the wrongs right than to beat Albion and do that and on the hallowed turf at Molineux. It gives us a great opportunity to bounce back.”
Taking on the Baggies on Sunday 🆚 pic.twitter.com/57bKHRMYke
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) March 20, 2025
On his approach to a derby
“For me, trying to remain a little less emotive is probably the way I do it. Everyone knows what I'm like, a heart on the sleeve kind of character, whether I'm on the line or in training sessions, so I have to control my emotions and it's my role to control the emotions of the staff.
“There's going to be a lot of people in there and you're the forefront of the club, and if you're panicky and emotive within the dugout, that often goes out onto the pitch, and that's something we've really tried to work on this year. Hopefully, that's paid off and the girls have understood that. I want them to know that I am right behind them through the good and the bad.
“We've had an outstanding record against Albion and we're coming up to nearly six years without losing to them in the league, and we obviously gave it away in the County Cup in December, which is disappointing, so we're really looking to bounce back and start off a new run and hopefully head towards a new record.”
On the big win at the Hawthorns in October
“When you’re manager of any of the teams at Wolves, if you’re going to beat West Bromwich Albion in their backyard eight-nil, it’s going to sit high in the memories that you've created within the club.
“But I think that's probably the worst thing that happened to us with regards to then drawing them in the semi-final as a little bit of complacency slipped in. We probably disrespected them a little bit from a playing perspective, and although that wasn't the best thing to happen to us for the semi-final, hopefully what happened in the semi-final is the best thing to happen to us going into the weekend, and hopefully we can put things right.”
On a showcase game for the supporters
“The girls have entertained again this year. What the girls do, is they'll get bums off seats because we want to play an exciting brand of football when we're attacking. We might concede goals doing it, but we want it to be exciting.
“We want the fans to enjoy the experience when they come and it's another opportunity for us against on Sunday. We got 5,000 in Telford not long back and we're hoping for the same kind of numbers again this time round, and it's our job as a staff and as a playing squad to get as many of those people to return and become Wolves Women fans.
“We can only do that by playing well, by showing the right values, by showing the right characteristics of this great football club and the working class people that come and watch us week in, week out. We’ve got to make sure we're ready and hopefully we can do some entertaining on Sunday.”
On the support of Wolves Women fans
“The fans who come with us week in, week out at Telford and all over the country have been amazing again this season. They’re absolutely fantastic and it's disappointing that we can't give them a trophy.
“We've had a fair few years now where we've given them these memories and these moments of lifting trophies and winning leagues, so it's a shame this year is probably the first time for a long time that we don't find ourselves in a position to lift a bit of silverware, but they've been amazing all year.
“But they know what we're up against and they know the kind of things that we're having to deal with as a club and try and overcome, but they're always there to try and help us get over barriers. They've done it again this year, and hopefully there won't be too many barriers on Sunday, but if there are, then hopefully they'll be that 12th person to help us get through any sticky patches.”
Tickets for Wolves vs West Bromwich Albion can be purchased in advance by clicking here.
