West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion defender Conor Townsend labelled their Black Country derby 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers their "worst performance of the season".

Albion goalkeeper Max O'Leary made a handful of excellent saves to keep the margin of defeat to just one goal, scored by Fer Lopez in the 50th minute.

Wolves produced an expected goals (xG) of 1.96 from 15 shots, six of which were on target, while the Baggies struggled to exert their attacking threat with an xG of just 0.27 from seven shots, two being on target.

"As a team, we could be better on the ball," Townsend said.

"This season we've been brilliant at playing out and building and moving the ball and we didn't do anywhere near enough. I thought the first 10 minutes we did but then we went away from what we're good at."

But the experienced 33-year-old isn't just reflecting on his disappointment, he's also looking to how they need to respond with their next fixture at home to Birmingham City on 10 October.

"It's our worst performance of the season," Townsend added. "To come in this game, it's hard to take.

"The dressing room was really despondent after as you'd imagine but we've had a good start to the season in general.

"There's a lot of positives, it's a young dressing room and now is the point where we need to stick together as a team, as a club."

Listen to the full interview above or on BBC Sounds here.

We asked for your thoughts after Wolverhampton Wanderers' 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in Sunday's derby encounter.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Dave: Absolutely battered the Baggies, rock solid at the back and although we didn't dominate possession, we created almost all of the chances. They never looked like scoring, even from set-pieces. Only their GK kept the score respectable. Convincing victory even without two of our best players (Raul and Krejci).

Brian: Much better, hard work, tough tackles, making chances. This is exactly what the fans want to see and needs to be the standard every week.

Robert: Wolves were brilliant for the vast majority of the game. Every player was on the money from the kick-off. Need to repeat this level regularly to win promotion though.

Simon: Great high pressure performance which provided the right result. However Wolves, at home, need to convert their chances when they're on top, to avoid nervy final minutes. They also need to learn to stop playing too deep when going ahead, instead continue persevering with the high tempo football to reap the rewards they deserve.

James: Wolves did well. Limited Albion threat to a minimum. Scored the important goal that wins the tight local derby.

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom fans

Jonathan: Derby loss hurts but response is more important. O'Leary superb. When facing high press defenders need to know when to get rid. Quicker interplay up front needed to create chances. Potential is there for rest of season.

Paul: We were never in the game, you could say we froze. Our young players will learn from this game and hopefully will return to how we have played this season.

Mac: Poor passing, no person with any aggression for a derby, no passion, no-one with any idea how to score a goal, if it wasn't for O'Leary or could have been 4-0.

Peter: We were the better side and lost by a stupid mistake by Phillips. But that's football for you.

Stephen: Midfield needs sorting, Price corner kicks are not good enough, need to play a winger. You can't play Price and Whitwell in the same team. Styles need to be down the left, makes room for Price, gives him room to operate. Totally out-played and out-fought.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport England

Image source, Adam Fradgley - Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion boss James Morrison summed up the defining moment of the 2026 Black Country derby by admitting: "You can't gift goals like that."

But he then threw a protective arm round the shoulder of the culprit, defender Nat Phillips, whose poor backpass let in Wolves frontman Fer Lopez for the game's only goal..

"He owned up to his mistake," said Morrison. "But Nat's been immense over the last couple of weeks.

"We had loads of time. There was a gap to play the ball forwards and we turned it down. That's what I'm disappointed in.

"In games like this, you have to be able to deal with the pressure. We just didn't have that belief. We went backwards and we did that too many times.

"We caused our own anxiety and that gave them a lift. They had the belief they could come after us and get success from it.

"I was delighted to get to half-time at 0-0. Max O'Leary made some fantastic saves and I thought we can have a reset. But we went backwards. Maybe it was just a bit of being safe rather than getting forwards and imposing ourselves.

"We made too many mistakes and you can't do that in a game like this.

"We didn't have the quality at the top end of the pitch and that's something we're going to have to address. But mistakes happen. Now I want to see a reaction."

The only frustration for the Albion boss after suffering only his second defeat in eight Championship games this season - and only their third in 19 league games going back to February - is that they must now wait until 10 October after the extended international break before they host their next game, another derby against Birmingham City.

Jonny Drury
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The first Black Country derby in the league for some time - and the first in front of fans for 14 years. No wonder there is so much anticipation around this one.

You have to go back to 2008 to find the last time the two sides met in the second tier and the situation was very different back then.

Albion were the ones who went on to win the title but this time the tables are very much turned.

Wolves are the big fish down from the top flight and Albion are the young pups looking to impress.

They have done that this season and sit above Wolves, after an impressive start.

But make no mistake, the pressure is on Wolves, the onus is on Wolves to take the game to Albion at Molineux and win.

They have not had the most convincing start and a victory over the old rivals would certainly kickstart their campaign.

But that pressure being on Wolves may just play into Albion's favour. They can play with freedom, soak up pressure and hit on the break, something they are good at.

And the atmosphere will be key on the day. Molineux can rock when it is going well, but if Albion edge ahead early on, it could turn and play in their favour.

A fascinating afternoon is in store on Sunday.

Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with the latest West Bromwich Albion news.

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion captain George Campbell says he is focused on the Black Country derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday (12:00 BST) after earning his second international call-up for the United States.

The 25-year-old defender made his debut for the US in January 2025 but missed out on a place in the squad for the World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino's side will play Peru on Saturday, September 26 in Orlando before games against Chile, Mexico and Canada.

"I tried a lot to try and get into that squad leading up to that World Cup, obviously I couldn't manage it but it's only motivation," Campbell told BBC Radio WM.

"Every player has a dream to be in their national team. But in this moment, I'm still worried about getting a win on Sunday for the club and I'll only get in the zone for the national team when I get there."

Sunday's match will be the skipper's first taste of the derby against Wolves and it's an experience he feels will be like no other.

"I think the closest game in the MLS will be the furthest one here," Campbell added.

"In terms of the rivalry of it, respectfully to Montreal [his previous club], it won't come close to this one. It means a lot to the fans.

"It's a special game and everyone wants to play."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds here.

The Black Country derby is back as Wolves and West Bromwich Albion face each other at Molineux on Sunday (12:00 BST).

Both find themselves in the play-off spots as it stands, though the hosts could be out of them by close of play on Saturday, and whoever wins will not only get bragging rights but will get to go in front of the other on the table.

• Wolves have only won one of their last eight league games against West Brom (D3 L4), a 3-1 Premier League win in May 2011.

• West Brom have won both of their last two league visits to Wolves, last winning three in a row in February 1931.

• Wolves have won three of their last five league games (D1 L1), as many as their previous 43 beforehand (W3 D13 L27).

• West Brom have won four of their last seven away league games (D1 L2), as many as their previous 39 beforehand (W4 D14 L21).

• Only Southampton (5) have scored more goals in the final 10 minutes of Championship games this season than Wolves (4), with two of Raúl Jiménez's three league goals this term coming in the 90th minute.

Sunday's derby against Wolves means different things depending on what generation of Albion supporter you are.

For an older generation, their main rivals are Aston Villa.

There are fewer than four miles between Villa Park and The Hawthorns, so that makes sense geographically.

However, younger fans view Wolves as the main enemy.

It's a rivalry that grew in passion and venom in the 1980s and 1990s when the Baggies were in a lower division than Villa and clashed with Wolves more often.

However, because both teams have yo-yoed between the second tier and the Premier League, there have been just six league meetings in the past 17 years.

Despite that, the hatred between blue and white and old gold has not waned.

Image source, Getty Images

I do think it is an underrated rivalry nationally.

The atmosphere for these games is rabid and, as witnessed when they met in the FA Cup just two years ago at The Hawthorns, it can boil over.

Hopefully, we do not witness scenes like that this time around and are instead just talking about what happens on the pitch.

It will be a nervy affair for both fan bases and, with the resurgence of Albion under James Morrison, I think it's an extremely tough one to call.

I also think the fact the Baggies' head coach has played in this game gives him an advantage over Cesar Peixoto.

The Portuguese won't know exactly what this game is all about until he hears the noise at Molineux on Sunday.

Chris Hall
Fan writer

In his post-match interviews after Albion's draw with QPR, James Morrison was asked if the clash with Wolves was 'just another game' to him.

His answer was emphatic: "It goes far deeper than that. I keep getting reminded by the fans about this game, and it's for them."

Morrison knows exactly what this game means to Albion supporters.

A veteran of five Black Country derbies as a player, Morrison has been involved in some of Albion's most memorable moments against their old adversary.

In the Championship in 2008, Morrison played in a 1-0 win at Molineux which virtually secured a promotion back to the Premier League.

The fans celebrated Zoltan Gera's late winner that night as if promotion was assured. It was confirmed a mere two weeks later.

In 2011, Roy Hodgson's first opponents as Albion boss were Wolves at The Hawthorns in a true relegation six-pointer.

It was a game which was going the way of the visitors until Morrison balanced the scales late on. His shot in injury time was spilt by Wayne Hennessey and the on-rushing Carlos Vela tapped home to give Albion a point they never looked back from.

Albion lost just one of their next eight games, and when they travelled to Molineux for the return fixture in early May the Baggies were safe, but their opponents were not.

The Throstles could have inflicted a fatal blow on their near neighbours that day (Wolves stayed up by a point in the end), but instead Albion capitulated to a 3-1 defeat.

That was the only defeat the current Baggies boss ever suffered against Wolves in his playing career, and it was a defeat that was inflicted after Albion had achieved their season's goal.

Regardless, it tainted an otherwise joyful campaign, and Morrison will know how unpalatable defeat by Wolves is for Albion fans in any circumstances.

Image source, Shutterstock

He also knows first-hand what it means to not only beat your near neighbours, but humiliate them.

One of the stand-out results in Albion's recent history was their visit to Molineux in February of the following season, a game now affectionately referred to as Wo1ve5.

There were just five points between the sides going into the game, but there was a chasm between the two come the final whistle.

Albion's 5-1 victory that day was the largest winning margin an Albion side had achieved on Wolves soil for 50 years, and Morrison played an enormous part in the rout.

The second and third goals came from Morrison corners, before the midfielder assisted the final two goals.

The iconic image of him standing off the pitch, one arm aloft looking into the South Bank as former Wolves player Keith Andrews drove home Albion's fourth from Morrison's pass, still adorns the wall of The Hawthorns to this day.

With so little Black Country derby experience in the Albion ranks (only Conor Townsend of the existing squad has played in this fixture before), it will largely fall on the manager to explain to his players why this is so much more than just another Championship fixture.

However, given how this team has embodied their manager's work ethic, values, determination and will to win on numerous occasions already this season, Albion fans will be confident that Morrison will get his message across ahead of this game of all games.

Listen to more from Chris Hall at the Albion Analysis, external

And don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with the latest West Bromwich Albion news.

Jonny Drury
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

How many times do we hear the phrase from managers, "it's a squad game"?

They are right, it is, but managers very rarely apply that logic. They like to keep the same side for as long as they possibly can, depending on injuries.

We have seen it at Albion, certainly under Carlos Corberan when he had a slender squad, would hardly change things, and injuries would bite.

Flip that on its head and in the first handful of games of this season James Morrison has made a change in almost every single game.

In some outings there have been multiple, and some haven't always gone down well with the supporters.

Take the exclusion of Jimmy-Jay Morgan from the starting line-up against QPR for example. No one saw that coming.

Other key players have stepped out and then back in.

Some would argue that tinkering like that upsets the rhythm of the side, but it hasn't at all.

In fact, what it has outlined is that Morrison has something that a lot of other managers, who claim football is a 'squad game', don't have.

That is trust in all the players he has at his disposal. And that is a real positive as Albion try and kick on from a superb start to the campaign.

Players have come in and done a job, which in turn has seen Morrison develop trust in them.

There will be ups and downs, it won't always be this good. But for the first time in a while, Albion seem to have a capable squad who are all backed by the manager, and that can only be a good thing.

Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with the latest West Bromwich Albion news.

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion head coach James Morrison felt his side's draw with Queens Park Rangers was a "positive point".

The Baggies came back from conceding a Chris Mepham own goal to draw 1-1, but dropped to third place on goal difference in the Championship.

"It was a positive point. I think first half we had good control, they hit us on the break probably from our mistake, it hit Meps in the face and goes in," told BBC WM.

"But we showed good character really to come back with a nice-worked goal.

"I think the game opened up in the second half, we had some spells, they had some spells, it was just that last little bit really and I think for a neutral it was a good game of football.

"But I'm pleased with the lads, they gave everything again, seven points in a week, so it's a positive week."

Image source, Getty Images

Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion have been bit by a new injury blow ahead of Saturday's game against fourth-placed Queens Park Rangers.

Summer signing Nolan Galves is going to see a specialist to assess the injury he picked up in Albion's 1-0 midweek win at Derby.

This follows on the back of losing former Celtic winger Mikey Johnston "for an extended period" with another ankle injury setback earlier in the week.

French defender Galves was being rested at Pride Park for the first time after starting all of Albion's previous six games this season. But he then had to come on as a 37th-minute substitute after new arrival Brayann Pereira was sent off on his debut.

Galves himself than had to be replaced just 15 minutes later after going down following a challenge with Mo Fuseini.

BBC Radio WM understands that the exact nature of the injury to the 23-year-old is unknown for now.

No timeline has been put on his recovery by the club. But, with Pereira now suspended and young full-back Alex Williams having been loaned out to Hibernian last week, it leaves boss James Morrison without a specialist right-back for table-topping Albion's Saturday lunchtime kick-off (12:30 BST).

After that, Albion are then without a game until the first Black Country derby of the season against Wolves on Sunday, 20 September - the two clubs' first league meeting in more than five years.

You have to go back to 21 February for the last time West Brom were beaten at home in the league, a 2-1 defeat by last season's eventual champions Coventry City.

QPR will arrive at The Hawthorns on Saturday (12:30 BST) defending an unbeaten start on the road which has produced seven points from a possible nine.

• West Brom have only lost one of their past 14 home league games against QPR (W9 D4), a 4-1 reverse in the Premier League in April 2015.

• QPR have won just one of their past eight league matches against West Brom (D2 L5), a 3-1 home win in last season's Championship.

• West Brom are hoping to win three consecutive league matches for the first time since August 2025, and could do so while keeping a clean sheet each time for the first time since September 2024.

• QPR have failed to score in eight of their 13 away games in the Championship in 2026, the most of any side currently in the division.

• West Brom's Jimmy-Jay Morgan has more goal involvements than any other player in the Championship this season (six), scoring three and assisting three in his six games.