Bumper derby night for pubs
Pubs across the Black Country are expecting bumper crowds for the crunch play-off derby tomorrow night.
Landlords said today they were looking forward to a surge in trade and thousands of extra pints to be sunk during the game at The Hawthorns.
Wolves will be attempting to overturn a 3-2 deficit against West Brom in the second leg of the semi-final, which is being screened live on Sky Sports.
Thousands of Wolves fans who failed to get tickets for the away game are set to descend on pubs in the city to watch the action.
City centre watering holes shut down before the first match between the Black Country rivals on Sunday amid police fears of trouble, but they will be open for tomorrow's game.
Steven Hawkes, assistant manager of the Hogshead in the city centre, is anticipating a rush of punters. The Stafford Street pub has seven big screens and Mr Hawkes said it would be heaving.
"You will just have to open the doors and try to hold them back," he said.
The Mount Tavern in Penn Road is expecting a repeat of the full house it had for the first leg of the semi-final.
Bar manager Michelle Dixon said: "On Sunday we were very, very busy so with it being away, we will be packed."
The Royal Oak pub in Market Place, Cannock, has a giant screen and six televisions for fans to enjoy all the action.
Manager Mark Parton said: "It was absolutely rammed on Sunday and, fingers crossed, it will be the same again tomorrow.
"It was a really good atmosphere with mainly Wolves fans and one or two Albion fans, but it was all pretty good-natured."
A total of 18 pubs and sports clubs in Wolverhampton have confirmed they will be showing live coverage of the game. Ten pubs around Dudley will be showing all the action along with seven in mid-Staffordshire and five in Walsall.
