Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Bromwich Albion. Premier League.
Molineux.
Match report as West Brom seal Black Country derby bragging rights with 3-2 win at Wolves; Win is Sam Allardyce's first in charge at West Brom, who are now three points adrift of safety; Wolves now without a league win in five matches
Saturday 16 January 2021 19:27, UK
Sam Allardyce secured his first win as West Brom boss as they breathed new life into their bid for Premier League survival with a 3-2 Black Country derby victory at Wolves.
Matheus Pereira (8) gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot after Willy Boly's foul on Callum Robinson, but Wolves hit back as two goals in five minutes from Fabio Silva (38) and Boly (43) to send them in at the break with the lead.
The topsy-turvy nature of the game didn't stop there as West Brom responded early in the second half through defender Semi Ajayi (52), before Pereira's second penalty of the afternoon - after Conor Coady brought down Robinson - sealed Allardyce's first win in charge of Albion.
Three points sees West Brom, who stay 19th, move onto 11 points, three adrift of safety. Meanwhile, Wolves' struggles continue. Nuno Espirito Santo's side are without a win in five league games and stay 14th.
West Brom made a positive start at Molineux and they took a surprise lead when Pereira converted from the penalty spot in the eighth minute.
Boly clattered into Callum Robinson right on the edge of the area. Referee Michael Oliver adjudged the foul to have taken place inside the box, and following a VAR check, Pereira sent Rui Patricio the wrong way to make it 1-0.
Wolves responded well to going a goal behind, though it was West Brom who should have extended their lead. However, with only the goalkeeper to beat, Robinson's shot was saved at close range by Patricio.
It proved to be a crucial moment as Wolves levelled seven minutes before the break, Silva latching onto Boly's flick before picking out the far corner with a side-foot finish from six yards.
Boly, a central character to the events of the first half, then completed the turnaround himself two minutes before half-time when he found the back of the net from close range after the visitors failed to clear Joao Moutinho's corner.
Wolves would have expected to kick on after the break but West Brom showed plenty of character as they staged a fightback of their own.
Centre-backs Kyle Bartley and Ajayi combined from a long throw and the latter levelled eight minutes after the restart, lopping a brilliant header over Patricio and into the far corner.
A thrilling game continued, and the visitors regained the lead four minutes later when Robinson was clipped in the penalty area by Coady in the box and Pereira grabbed his second from the spot, sending Patricio the wrong way again.
Wolves did have chances to get back into the game as Pedro Neto and Adama Traore caused all sorts of problems on the flanks. Substitute Patrick Cutrone fired a glorious opportunity over the crossbar in the 82nd minute, before Nelson Semedo had a shot superbly blocked by Bartley.
However, the visitors held on for only their second Premier League win of the season - a big win which gives them a glimmer of hope in the battle to beat the drop.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo: "We didn't do a good game or achieve a good result. It means a lot for us and our fans. We didn't do what we should do defensively. The start of the second half was very bad. Conceding goals makes our task very hard. We wanted to control the game and be aggressive in defence and we didn't do it.
"We knew that West Brom were trying from throw-ins, long balls and set-pieces and we didn't defend well. Coady came off - options, options. It was a simple decision.
"We had chances and require better finishing. It's very hard against a team that defends so well with men behind the ball.
"We are all disappointed. We are aware it's not a good moment for us, we have to react to it and work hard. We think that a back four is better for us with the players we have, it is time to analyse and see what the next step forwards is."
West Brom boss Sam Allardyce: "In the vast majority of that performance the plan, and the way the lads carried out the tactics, was excellent. It's the best I've seen us in possession since I've been here.
"Apart from slipping up on a set-piece which put us on the back foot, I'd have to say the lads were excellent. You could have felt the heads go down when we were behind, but they came bouncing back. We created other chances after going ahead which would have made it even better and then defended well at the end.
"It's even better for the club and the fans because we've beat our rivals in the black country derby. We look forward to gaining a bit of confidence now. I'm asking the players to improve their overall fitness and technique by one per cent - add that all up and it's a big improvement. I'm asking for everyone to do that little bit more and be more consistent."
West Brom midfielder Romaine Sawyers:
"It's massive. If there was one game to change our season, this is the game. It's the one fans look forward to the most.
"We had seven days with the gaffer [Sam Allardyce]. This was the first time really on the training ground, getting back to basics. The infrastructure of his team showed today.
"He's a bit tough on us but it's not a happy situation we're in so we need that tough love.
"I was a little boy when it [the great escape] happened. To go and do that again this year would be amazing."
Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker:
"There's no excuses. We have been unlucky with the goals we conceded - two penalties - but there can be no excuses.
"We have to demand more from ourselves and finish our opportunities. You can't win the game if you don't take your chances. They didn't create much apart from the goals.
"If you look at the table we are not where we were in the last two years, you could say this is a difficult period for us with tough games coming up.
"We have to stick together and get that winning mentality back. If you look at our squad we have great players, we need to find that spirit."
Up next for Wolves is a trip to Chorley in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday; kick-off 7.45pm.
Their next Premier League assignment is on Wednesday January 27 when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge; kick-off 6pm.
Meanwhile, West Brom travel to West Ham in the Premier League on Tuesday; kick-off 6pm.
