Lopez strike seals Wolves win in Black Country Derby

Wolves claimed local bragging rights on Sunday as Fer Lopez’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich in the Black Country derby.

Wolves dominated the opening stages and could easily have gone into half-time ahead, but West Brom goalkeeper Max O´Leary a series of excellent saves. His best came after 12 minutes, when he somehow tipped Nasser Djiga‘s goal-bound header onto the crossbar before Wolves were unable to convert the rebound.

O’Leary also denied Mateus Mané and Marshall Munetsi as the hosts continued to threaten, while West Brom offered very little going forward. Isaac Price‘s free-kick, comfortably dealt with by Jose Sa, was their only real effort before the break.

Five minutes after half-time, however, Wolves finally found a way through – with a helping hand from the visitors. Nat Phillips‘ underhit back-pass allowed Lopez to race through and lift the ball over O’Leary.

The Baggies pushed for an equaliser late on, but Wolves defended stubbornly and held on for a first home Black Country derby win in 15 years, moving above their local rivals in the Championship table.