Wolves blogger Tim Spiers believes the Black Country derby is where results – not plaudits – matter as his team prepare to make the trip to the Hawthorns.

It’s often said that in football, as well as sport in general, winning is 90 per cent mental and 10 per cent physical.

In the case of what is increasingly becoming a ludicrous season at Molineux, absurd enough to be written up as a Shakespearean farce, I’m inclined to agree.

How else can you explain the fact we deservedly beat Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, but remain bottom of the table?

Equally as deserving were wretched defeats against Wigan (twice), West Ham and Blackpool when the expectation in those games was for us to do far better.

After we downed Chelsea 1-0 their captain John Terry said we were as good as any side they had faced all season, while before the United win Sir Alex Ferguson declared our league position “false.”

On our day we can, as has been proved, beat the best in this league but you have to say statistically, with the table as is stands, we are likely to be relegated in three months time.

Consistency and momentum are overused buzz words when talking about football, but the truth is we’ve had none of either all season.

The mental side of our game came into question earlier a few months ago, when we conceded a succession of late goals to turn first-half leads into defeats or draws.

But the problems haven’t been addressed and it could cost us dear. By no means are we the only football team to have suffered from a mental affliction. Indeed, the game is rife with examples including of course our infamous collapse of 2002.

Most recently Arsenal have consistently come up short when it’s mattered most, through inexperience, a lack of belief.

Brazil at the 1982 World Cup, Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle in 1996, Hungary’s Magnificent Magyars of the 1950s and the Total Football of Holland 20 years later – all sides which should have achieved greatness, but failed.

On the flip side unequivocal mental strength can turn an average side into world-beaters.

Just look at Greece’s victorious Euro 2004 side, Nottingham Forest’s two European Cup wins under Brian Clough or Wimbledon’s 1988 FA Cup triumph.

Then you have got the startling statistic that Jose Mourinho hasn’t lost a home league game for nine years, a quite astonishing feat which proves how team psychology comes collectively through one man only – the gaffer.

Our own Mick McCarthy, loved by many at Molineux but so shamefully derided by some, has instilled some wonderful qualities into our largely inexperienced side.

Through the players his character traits are there for all to see – honesty, desire, commitment, passion, underdog spirit and a willingness to make the best of what is often limited ability, compared to the top sides.

But they also take his weaknesses onto the field – in particular his stubborn reluctance to try anything different or with wild abandon, as evidenced in our infuriating unwillingness to shoot from just outside the box.

McCarthy is a very likeable chap and that’s true of our team too, but do they and he have the mental capacity to avoid relegation and push on next season to mid-table?

The nagging feeling is that McCarthy lacks the nous to take us to the so-called next level but, like the players, he’s still learning in the Premier League and deserves the chance to prove himself.

Psychology will count for a lot this Sunday and again the following Saturday in what is the most important double-header of the season so far, by a distance.

Defeat in either game is unthinkable but going on what’s already happened this season we should be anticipating at least one. However, with time and games running out you’d have to think that four points is a minimum requirement.

The Baggies have been on a nightmare run of late, with their own mental fragility displayed in abundance when collapsing from 3-0 up at home to West Ham last week.

But with a new manager on board they’ve got a clean slate with which to launch a 12-game survival bid.

Roy Hodgson is an extremely good appointment for the Baggies, a fantastic coup which gives them a superb chance of avoiding relegation.

His wealth of experience alone counts for a few points and if he can iron out their defensive errors they should have enough goals in them, though Peter Odemwingie and Carlos Vela, to stay up, as much as it pains me to say it.

As for Sunday, as ever I’m sure it’ll be tight, fast, furious and ugly.

We’ve looked a little stronger in defence of late, finally playing a settled back four of Ronald Zubar, Richard Stearman, Christophe Berra and George Elokobi. The mistakes are still there but the continuity of playing with each other week in, week out is helping.

Behind them goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is in the form of his career and with the West Brom defence looking so shaky, this could be where we hold a slight advantage.

It’s a game for keeping calm under pressure, showing an unquestionable will to win and fighting for every single challenge and loose ball.

To be honest there’s precious little to choose between us and them, except for the fact they’ve had such a great record in Black Country derbies for what seems like a very long time.

It’s this record, and the fact it’s Hodgson’s first game in charge, which gives me a bad feeling.

But with Wolves that’s probably a good thing.