Express & Star

Analysis: Derby win over Wolves a much-needed step in the right direction for West Brom

Rarely in recent history has a win over Wolves been more surprising or valuable for Albion.

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Surprising, due to the manner it was achieved by a Baggies team who had managed just one Premier League win to their name in 17 previous attempts.

Valuable because it injected fresh belief and hope into a season which, even though not yet half finished, already looked in danger of becoming a lost cause.

No question, this win was worth more than just three points to Sam Allardyce and his players.

Of course, they remain deep in trouble. Brighton’s surprise win at Leeds later on Saturday, which restored a five point gap between the Baggies and safety, knocked just a smidgen of the gloss off the efforts at Molineux.

Yet for arguably the first time this season – and certainly since Allardyce took charge a month ago – it is possible to see a pathway out of trouble over the remaining 20 games.

Saturday’s win featured several key ingredients, most crucially grit and determination, which until now had been largely lacking in a miserable campaign.

Already the underdogs, albeit against rivals who were themselves out of form, the odds looked further stacked against Albion prior to kick-off when it emerged they would be without Sam Johnstone, comfortably their standout performer to this point of the season, after the goalkeeper tested positive for coronavirus. Midfielder Conor Gallagher, their most consistent outfield player, was already ruled out through suspension.

Johnstone was replaced by David Button, for what was his first Premier League start in almost two years. Kamil Grosicki, making his first top flight appearance since May 2017, came in for the injured Grady Diangana.

Then, having made a good start and grabbed the lead through Matheus Pereira’s eighth minute penalty, Albion undid their hard work by conceding twice in the space of five minutes just prior to half-time.

To say the Baggies had not responded well to adversity this season would be an understatement. No doubt at that stage there were many supporters fearing the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

Yet this time the team refused to accept their fate. They fought level through Semi Ajayi’s header, got their noses back in front thanks to another Pereira penalty and then defended for their lives during the closing stages, proving to their manager – and just perhaps themselves – they actually do possess the necessary heart for the battle ahead.

Saturday was the first time this season Albion have come from behind to claim victory. It was only the second time they have scored three goals in a game and only the third occasion they have netted more than once.

No-one could claim the performance was anywhere close to perfect. Albion’s chances of surviving their first season back in the Premier League still, in all likelihood, rest on the success or otherwise of business conducted in the transfer market between now and the end of the month.

On this evidence their one first-team addition so far, Robert Snodgrass, has already settled in well.

The statistics might show the Scot neither scored nor set up a goal on debut, yet his all-round impact on his new team was clear to see.

Snodgrass possesses the kind of savvy Albion have badly needed, particularly in his ability to read situations, win free-kicks and possession.

The 33-year-old was among several visiting players to win the ball in Wolves’ third in the build-up to Pereira’s opening penalty, the returning Jake Livermore eventually getting the final touch to rob Adama Traore before Willy Boly needlessly dived in to bring down Callum Robinson.

There should be more to come too. Snodgrass was making his first Premier League start for more than 10 months and Allardyce later admitted he expected the wideman to only last around 70 minutes. He ended up playing the full 90 and was in the thick of the action right until the final seconds as Pedro Neto’s final attempted cross into the danger zone was blocked behind.

Snodgrass’ energy appeared to rub off on his team-mates, among them Pereira, who tripled his Premier League goal tally for the campaign. Both of his spot-kicks were coolly dispatched. Even more impressive was the workrate of a player who for too much of this season to date has looked subdued. The Brazilian celebrated his goals by sticking his fingers in his ears, a response perhaps to the critics of whom more performances like this will be needed to fully silence.

No player typified Albion’s second half desire more, meanwhile, than Kyle Bartley. Allardyce had previously called for his players to stand up and be counted and it was possible to believe the centre-half had taken his manager’s words to heart. One flying block in the closing stages to deny Nelson Semedo was followed by a loud roar and a beating of the chest. It was no surprise to see Bartley in the thick of the celebrations at the final whistle.

Allardyce could be heard reminding his players of the need to observe coronavirus protocols yet inside he must have been jumping.

His Hawthorns reign might only be a month old but after three heavy home defeats and an FA Cup exit at Blackpool scrutiny was already building.

He needed something to ease the pressure. Supporters needed something to restore hope. On Saturday at Molineux, the players delivered.

Albion have now taken four points from two away matches under Allardyce, the other result a draw at Liverpool.

Sweet as this victory undoubtedly was considering the opponent, it needs pointing out Wolves are currently among the league’s most out-of-form teams. West Ham, who Albion visit tomorrow, are unbeaten in four and look a far sterner prospect. Allardyce is too experienced to think one win has solved all of his problems.

Albion still need to defend better. Both goals conceded on Saturday were soft, the second particularly so, with Livermore missing the initial header and Ajayi the attempted clearance allowing Boly to poke home. The Baggies can’t leave themselves needing to score three to win every match.

Success in a division as relentless as the Premier League can only be savoured briefly. Albion now face a challenge in backing this up. Yet after weeks and arguably months when it felt as though they were going backwards, Saturday was finally a step in the right direction. If nothing else, it is a start.