Express & Star

Express & Star team predict Wolves vs West Brom

The Black Country derby returns to the Premier League this weekend, with Wolves hosting Albion at Molineux.

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Here, we the Express & Star sports team look ahead to the fixture, provide their thoughts on the encounter and provide their predictions, see what they have to say about the clash here...

Joe Edwards - Wolves correspondent

Who's best placed for the first Black Country derby of the season, and why?

Wolves, though not by a huge amount. Five without a win and 11 without a clean sheet in the league, with a fair few on the sidelines too, it has been a difficult run for Nuno. It is the first major blip of his tenure, really. Still, they are the favourites and should come away with the spoils if they perform.

Of course, there won't be any fans in the ground this weekend for the clash, how much of a factor do you think that could be?

The atmosphere is such a big part of this fixture, so having no fans there will be very strange - no doubt. But I still expect there to be an edge to the game, with a few bookings along the way.

What have you made of Wolves' season so far, and how do you think this game could affect their season as a whole?

The season has not been plain-sailing, at all, and this is must-win, really. Anything else is almost unfathomable. A win over the Baggies is desperately needed to raise spirits, and to make sure they stay away from any danger in the Premier League.

Equally, what have you made of Albion's season, and do you think a win against Wolves could finally lift the side to potentially spur a survival bid?

Everyone knows they have struggled and how they handled Slaven Bilic's sacking rightly came in for criticism. A win over Wolves would be huge for them but, as I say, it is something you can't bear to think about.

Where will the game be won and lost in your opinion?

From set-pieces, probably. Wolves have looked a bit vulnerable from them and it's probably Albion's main threat if Robert Snodgrass comes in, too. The onus is on defending them properly and using them effectively on the front foot - attacking aerial balls with aggression.

Which one player do you think will have the biggest impact on this clash and why?

If he is back, Adama Traore. His performances as of late have been back up to the standard of last season and he could be the difference-maker. Ruben Neves has also been fantastic recently.

Your match prediction?

Tight for a fair bit but, hopefully, 2-0 Wolves.

Joe Masi - West Brom correspondent

Who's best placed for the first Black Country derby of the season, and why?

You can only say Wolves. Albion are a team very much in transition following the sacking of Slaven Bilic and the arrival of Sam Allardyce.

The players are still getting to grips with the new bosses' methods. But it hasn’t been easy to adjust with a hectic schedule and Covid regulations meaning Allardyce just hasn’t had the time on the training ground he would like.

Albion did secure an impressive draw at Liverpool in his second match in charge.

But Allardyce’s other games in the hotseat have resulted in heavy defeats to Villa, Leeds and Arsenal before they crashed out the FA Cup to League One Blackpool. You really can't say the Baggies are in any sort of form.

Of course, there won't be any fans in the ground this weekend for the clash, how much of a factor do you think that could be?

Albion are waiting for that one big moment under Allardyce that turns their season around.

It is such a shame fans won’t be at Molineux for this game. But for Albion’s players, it still represents a massive opportunity for them to give something back to supports who are rapidly becoming disillusioned with the season.

Last year they were loved and received widespread acclaim for the football they played in the Championship.

This year, though, their attitude has been questioned as has their ability - with many fans believing a lot of the squad just aren’t good enough to make the step up.

The truth is wins over Wolves (and Villa) mean more than victory over any other side.

Albion’s players have let the fans down so far this season. This is a massive chance to both win back their support and turn their campaign around.

What have you made of Wolves' season so far, and how do you think this game could affect their season as a whole?

From the outside looking in, it feels like Wolves are also in a year of transition.

It’s been interesting seeing Nuno tinker with the three-at-the-back system that made the team so successful.

Obviously, everyone in the football world was shocked and saddened by the injury picked up by Raul Jimenez.

And I think it’s clear just what a key player he is for the club and how much he is currently being missed.

Having done so well to finish seventh in recent years, to me it looks like they have to settle for a bottom-half finish this season.

Equally, what have you made of Albion's season, and do you think a win against Wolves could finally lift the side to potentially spur a survival bid?

It just hasn’t happened for them yet. It wasn’t great under Slaven Bilic. But an awful lot went against them, they really were unfortunate.

Whether it was harsh VAR decisions or individual errors - they just couldn’t get themselves over the line and win games.

Now they have brought in Allardyce - probably the best firefighter manager there is.

Things haven’t turned yet. But there is still an awful long way to go.

With the league as it is, there isn’t a single team who wouldn’t see their campaign transformed with back-to-back wins.

If Albion can somehow find them it will give them a real platform to go on and survive.

Where will the game be won and lost in your opinion?

I think Albion will sit back, let Wolves have the ball and try to frustrate them.

The Baggies will try and score either on the counter of via set--pieces.

And it turns out new recruit Robert Snodgrass - the first signing of the Allardyce era - is something of a set-piece specialist.

It wouldn’t surprise me if he made a telling contribution.

Which one player do you think will have the biggest impact on this clash and why?

Again it’s Snodgrass. Albion need this game to effectively be the first of the Allardyce era.

All season they have looked naive, with the team really lacking nous and Premier League experience.

But Snodgrass brings that as well as quality. He should make a big difference to this side.

Your match prediction?

Wolves 0-1 Albion.

Nathan Judah - Digital sports editor regularly covering Wolves

Who's best placed for the first Black Country derby of the season, and why?

Three weeks ago I would have said Wolves will walk this (and they still might), but shocking injuries and a young team devoid of confidence, this screams the perfect game for Allardyce and WBA to finally show up.

Of course, there won't be any fans in the ground this weekend for the clash, how much of a factor do you think that could be?

The fans have waited so long for this game to come back around, it's a real shame for everyone involved. A banging Molineux is incredible, but I think both teams thrive off an atmosphere, positive or negative, especially in a derby. Will it have a contributing factor? Maybe, but that's no excuse for either side in a result.

What have you made of Wolves' season so far, and how do you think this game could affect their season as a whole?

Sell two of your best players, lose your talisman with a fractured skull and soak up the worst injury crisis during Nuno's tenure and Wolves were always going to have a down year.

Fans have been spoilt over that past three seasons, but reality is this team will finish mid-table, with next season earmarked as the big one.

They're expected to beat Albion so a win doesn't do much apart from bragging rights. But a draw or dare I say it...defeat and they'll be plenty calling for Nuno's head (which is crazy).

Equally, what have you made of Albion's season, and do you think a win against Wolves could finally lift the side to potentially spur a survival bid?

It's a Championship squad playing in the Premier League with a tiny budget...the owners have basically put a featherweight in with Anthony Joshua and asked him to go 12 rounds without getting knocked out - it's just not happening, they haven't even been given a punchers chance.

A win will obviously help, but that will probably get them through the fourth round with wobbly legs...I'll be stunned if they survive.

Where will the game be won and lost in your opinion?

Can Wolves deal with balls in box (they haven't recently) and can a striker score a goal? If the answer is yes to either, I think Wolves have enough.

Which one player do you think will have the biggest impact on this clash and why?

Neto - if he's on his game, I can't see Albion coping, but for that to happen, he needs a fit Traore to take attention away.

Everton homed in on Neto with no Podence or Adama...that was a huge reason for their win

Your match prediction?

Nervy game, not a lot of quality...I'll say Wolves sneak it 1-0 in a poor watch.

Luke Hatfield - Digital sports journalist regularly covering Albion

Who's best placed for the first Black Country derby of the season, and why?

You can't really look past Wolves here, to be honest. They may not have had an ideal season so far at Molineux, but they're definitely in better shape than Albion right now.

The Baggies have only won one top flight game so far, and to be honest there was a vein of fortuitousness about that result too.

Whilst injuries have hampered Wolves' efforts so far, they're still comfortably in mid-table. West Brom meanwhile, look a team devoid of direction and quality in the top flight, not helped one bit by a change in manager which has yet to really take.

Basically, this doesn't promise to be a game flowing with quality right now, but Wolves are definitely in a better place to win it.

Of course, there won't be any fans in the ground this weekend for the clash, how much of a factor do you think that could be?

It's such a shame to see the Black Country derby going ahead without a fully packed ground to witness it.

Ultimately, it will obviously kill the ordinarily thunderous atmosphere which is always present during these games. I'm not sure it'll affect the players too much though.

Players will have got used to kicking a ball in front of empty seats by now, so they'll get on with the task at hand. The real losers though are those dedicated supporters that have waited for the better part of a decade for this fixture to come along, only to end up watching from home.

Bragging rights are still to be fought for, but these are the games fans remember most, and seeing it through a screen never quite translates to when you're in the ground, smelling the grass and celebrating like you've lost your mind when the ball hits the back of the net.

What have you made of Wolves' season so far, and how do you think this game could affect their season as a whole?

Wolves are having a down year, that's for sure. But injuries haven't helped their cause one bit.

Everyone wishes Raul Jimenez well in his recovery from that horrendous skull fracture suffered at The Emirates. Elsewhere, the likes of Jonny, Willy Boly and others going down have also hurt them.

I know Nuno enjoys working with a smaller squad, but I always did wonder how the side would cope if injuries hit them - and now we're seeing it transpire.

Wolves will be fine this season, but I do think they could do worse than bolstering a bit in the summer. They've managed injuries very well in previous seasons, but this campaign shows just what can happen if you rob a team of some of their best players.

Some strength in depth wouldn't be a miss in my opinion.

As for this game, it would certainly lift the spirits, which would be helpful. Nuno isn't the type to ride too high or low after victory or defeat though, so for him it'll be just another 90 minutes.

The game definitely has more significance for supporters though, win it well and memories of that 5-1 defeat back in 2012 will be vanquished.

Equally, what have you made of Albion's season, and do you think a win against Wolves could finally lift the side to potentially spur a survival bid?

Albion have had a stinker this season, and if I'm being honest, I think we all had a bit of an idea it could happen given the amount of cash they spent over the summer.

Sam Allardyce's hiring hasn't had the desired effect yet, but that comes down the squad he's inherited and the lack of training time he's had with them.

Albion desperately need a turning point under him, and there's no bigger opportunity than the Black Country derby to do that.

A win over their old foes at Molineux would lift the spirits immensely and would get the fan base believing that an escape from relegation is possible. A few new signings on the back of that and suddenly the feeling of doom could quickly turn around at The Hawthorns.

Where will the game be won and lost in your opinion?

In both boxes.

Wolves have had plenty of games this season where they've failed to look their best going forward, and their defensive sturdiness seems to have dropped slightly too.

Like I said earlier, injuries have not helped one bit here, but that's where they need to focus if they're to get a result this weekend.

Same goes for Albion, who have been shipping goals for fun and aren't exactly offering much up top right now.

At the moment, it seems that goals are more likely to come from Semi Ajayi than any of the more forward thinking players, that's an issue that needs resolving.

Which one player do you think will have the biggest impact on this clash and why?

I'll pick one for each side. For Wolves, I think it's Pedro Neto - he's been terrific this season, and if he's on it he's a real handful for any side in the league.

He's not quite found that consistency yet in my opinion, but he's always a hard worker and loves a pop at goal. I've got the feeling he could have a big say this weekend.

As for Albion, Matheus Pereira. He's recently come out on social media to convince fans that he's giving his all for the side, and if he could back those words up in one of the biggest games of the season it would be something they'd love to see.

He was a magician in the Championship, but has yet to show just what he can do in the top flight. Like Neto, on his day he's a troublesome customer for any defender.

Your match prediction?

I think this won't be the best game in the world to watch if I'm being honest.

I don't like to sit on the fence too often, but I can see this one ending 1-1. Albion might net the first, before tiring and eventually seeing the hosts get level in the last 20 minutes.

Nick Elwell - Grassroots Sports Editor and Wolves fan

Who's best placed for the first Black Country derby of the season, and why?

Wolves may not be hitting the heights of the previous two seasons but they are in a healthier state than Albion.

Some sloppy defending has undermined their efforts to string a decent run of results together but they are starting to create a few more chances with Pedro Neto and Adama Traore looking a threat.

A much-changed Albion side go into the clash on the back of an FA Cup loss at Blackpool, which won't have helped lift morale within the camp.

Of course, there won't be any fans in the ground this weekend for the clash, how much of a factor do you think that could be?

This would have been the first game Wolves fans looked for when the fixtures came out and given what happened the last time the sides squared up at Molineux, they would have been baying for blood. It would have been hostile to say the least.

The players must be getting used to playing without fans by now but an empty stadium for a derby clash is going to benefit the away side more.

What have you made of Wolves' season so far, and how do you think this game could affect their season as a whole?

Fans have been told this is a season of transition as Nuno looks to evolve his squad and playing style.

So far it has made for some uncomfortable viewing with a couple of slappings - West Ham and Liverpool - along the way.

Injuries have hit the squad hard, especially in recent weeks, but this isn't the Wolves we are used to seeing under Nuno. At times in the past he was accused of not having a Plan B, now he seems to have A,B,C and D and uses them all in the space of 90 minutes!

For a man who was very regimented in his approach to games and selection it is quite strange to see him chopping and changing so much. I get that it is always good to have options and to be able to play different formations, but given the lack of time on the training ground in pre-season maybe it would have been best to stick to what they knew best and leave the evolution until next summer.

As for tomorrow's result and the impact it will have on the side, I think they just need a win regardless of who it is against as they strive to find some consistency.

For the fans, this is simply a must win.

Equally, what have you made of Albion's season, and do you think a win against Wolves could finally lift the side to potentially spur a survival bid?

I think most people expected it to be a tough season for Albion.

A lack of investment has made it even more difficult with the budget basically being blown on keeping together a side that just about got over the finish line in the race for automatic promotion last season.

The decision to ditch Slaven Bilic drew a mixed response from fans, but after bagging a draw at Liverpool Sam Allarydce hasn't got the new manager bounce that sometimes comes with a change in the dug out. If anything, the results and performances have been worse.

It goes without saying Albion need wins regardless of the opposition. A victory away to your fiercest rivals would certainly get the Baggies fans boing, boinging and no doubt give the side a lift. Being a Black Country lad Big Sam will know what this fixture means, but can he get his players up for it?

Where will the game be won and lost in your opinion?

Both sides are struggling for clean sheets. Wolves look a touch vulnerable when crosses come into their box and must be aware of giving away too many set-pieces and allowing Albion the chance to lump the ball in.

But Albion's problems run deeper having conceded 15 in their last five games. And even though the Molineux men have looked lightweight up top in the absence of Raul Jimenez they should create enough chances to win the game.

Which one player do you think will have the biggest impact on this clash and why?

You would expect Albion to sit deep and look to frustrate their hosts so a bit of magic may be required to break them down. Step forward Pedro Neto. The talented Portuguese forward has come on leaps and bounds this season. He asks questions of defenders with his pace and directness and is due a goal or two.

Your match prediction?

Wolves 2-1 - with a few late scares after conceding from a set-piece?