Wolves win battle, Albion win the war

Albion blogger Jarrod Hill's mood cannot be dampened after the Baggies secured Premier League safety - despite defeat in the Black Country derby.

We just didn't turn up in the Black Country, simple as that. Our first-half performance was as bad as anything we have seen this season and it quickly became obvious the lads were not up for the battle.

Wolves worked hard but in truth never had to hit top gear to beat us. Roy Hodgson has stated that the lads didn't just roll over, but that's exactly what it looked like from where I was sitting.

Peter Odemwingie, Somen Tchoyi and goalkeeper Scott Carson played reasonably well but the rest were awful.

James Morrison and the usually brilliant Youssouf Mulumbu had terrible games and I don't think I have ever seen so many passes go astray.

Abdoulaye Meite reminded us all including boss Roy Hodgson why he was placed into deep storage when he made a calamitous mistake to allow Wolves to all but wrap up the three points at the beginning of the second-half. I predicted a loss in Friday's blog and for once I am sad to be proved right.

The game was never going to mean as much to us as it did to them especially as our Premier League safety had been mathematically confirmed on Saturday.

However, if Wolves had performed well and beaten us through good play I could have accepted this Black Country derby defeat a little easier.

The goals we conceded were about as bad as it gets and it wasn't until boss Hodgson had given a half time rollicking for the boys to get out of first gear.

The penalty gave us some hope and if Jerome Thomas had scored instead of hitting the bar straight after you could envisage the Wolves crumbling, but that's just ifs buts and maybes.

Wolves deserved the three points and their battle to avoid the drop goes on, I wish them good fortune.

We must not allow this result and performance to take the shine off what has been a super season for us. We now have two games left with no pressure on us, two games to enjoy safe in the knowledge that we will be here again next season.

What Roy Hodgson can now do is assess where we will need reinforcements this summer.

Right-back, centre-half and strikers would be my main concern.

After Peter Odemwingie our striking options look a little thin on the ground and we need a specialist right-back.

Abdoulaye Meite has looked like a different player since his re introduction but his gaffe on Sunday gave me flashbacks to a time when he made me more nervous than a small nun at a penguin shoot.

We will also need to hold on to our star performers, but this department is usually well looked after by our chairman.

Moving on some of our fringe players may be more of a challenge, but let's see who comes knocking.

The season has been superb and we shouldn't allow this one result to ruin our celebrations and, this Saturday, I am suggesting we meet up for our end of season bash.

The Everton game kicks off at 12.45pm and I will be going straight into the Vine after, so anyone who wants to put some faces to names are more than welcome to come down.

I believe the Express & Star are sending a photographer so Tezza remember your lippy, and Pete remember to top up your fake tan.

Always proud to be a Baggie.