West Brom and Wolves squad statistic emphasises scale of change since infamous Black Country derby

A little over two-and-a-half years has passed since the infamous Black Country derby of January 2024.

The FA Cup fourth round tie between Albion and Wolves at The Hawthorns made headlines for all of the wrong reasons as the first clash in front of supporters for 12 years caused off-field chaos.

The tie, televised live on ITV, was delayed for around 40 minutes due to crowd trouble initially sparked by a Wolves supporter celebrating in the home Albion end. Incidents spilled on to the field as worried players rushed to retrieve family members.

Visitors Wolves, then of the Premier League, prevailed 2-0 winners with goals from Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha, who have since left for Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.

The two goalscorers that day are not the only change at the two clubs in the 33 months or so since.

Sea of change

A week is a long time in football. It is not unusual for a picture to change entirely in two-and-a-half years.

There is plenty of truth that the feeling of a Black Country derby will not be familiar to most of those who take to the field at Molineux on Sunday.

The atmosphere will likely help convey the feeling to those newcomers.

Wolves’ eight-season stay in the Premier League came to an end last season with a rock-bottom top flight finish.

They will meet the Baggies twice this season - Sunday’s Molineux showdown and a clash at The Hawthorns in February.

The head coaches back in January 2024 were Carlos Corberan for hosts and away boss Gary O’Neil.

James Morrison - well versed in the Black Country derby - and Cesar Peixoto are in the dugouts to sample their first taste of the rivalry as head coaches this time around.

Of the 40 players involved in the matchday squad that day, just eight remain at their clubs.

Six remain at Wolves, while just two of the Baggies’ squad are still on the books.

Portuguese goalkeeper Jose Sa kept a clean sheet in the FA Cup tie and is likely to be selected for the home derby on Sunday lunchtime after emerging as Peixoto’s first choice this term.

Defender Toti Gomes and midfielder Tommy Doyle started at The Hawthorns two years ago. Academy graduate Tawanda Chirewa, 22, emerged as a substitute and defender Hugo Bueno remained unused on the bench.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was a Wolves starter and is still on the books, though currently on the fringes.

The change has been more dramatic for Sunday’s visitors, from whom just two players remain - one having since returned.

Left-back Conor Townsend played much of the tie in what proved to be the final season of his first Baggies stint, before returning two years later this summer.

The other presence in Albion’s matchday squad that day still at the club was an unused youngster on the bench who has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign so far this term - Harry Whitwell.

Attacker Whitwell, now 20, was an emerging teen two years ago and made his Baggies senior bow earlier in January 2024, against non-league Aldershot.

It would not be a surprise for the right-sided attacker - well-regarded by boss Morrison - to play a bigger role at Molineux this time around.

Longest-serving Baggies player Jayson Molumby missed the derby two-and-a-half years ago through injury, as Albion lacked his bite and tenacious qualities.

Albion moved to sign winger Mikey Johnston, initially on loan from Celtic, four days after the 2024 derby. Star attacking Johnston will miss out on Sunday through a long-term ankle injury.