Dave Edwards: Clinical Wolves kept their heads and got the reward

It was a really important day for the football club. Firstly, to get themselves in the FA Cup fifth round and there’s a real chance they can go deep in this competition, which is a priority, but also getting one over on your local rivals is so important.

The players and staff would have known the importance of it and the fans were talking about it all the week. It was up to the players to remain calm on the pitch and play the game and not the occasion, and I think Wolves did that really well.

They handled the atmosphere and emotion of the game, but I must say Albion did as well. They played really well in spells, but Wolves knew they had the better players and were patient.

Wolves weren’t at their stellar best by any stretch of the imagination, but Gary O’Neil really deserves credit for taking a weaker squad from last season, that couldn’t score goals, and getting the best out of them. A lot of it is counter-attacking football and it’s no freak accident that these chances pop up.

It took a while in the first half for that first chance to come and Matt Doherty deserves a lot of credit for his play in the build-up. He read the corner and put in a very good pass for Pedro Neto. It was a bit fortuitous that the ball bobbled back to him, but it was an excellent finish – very clinical.

From that moment, Wolves were extremely comfortable and kept the Baggies at arm’s length.

Matheus Cunha had an excellent game again. He’s involved in everything Wolves do well and O’Neil has to take so much credit for his performances.

He’s playing him in a position to get the best out of him. His link play is excellent and right up there with the best in the Premier League.

There’s a fundamental difference in the way he approaches attacking now. He’s direct in his running, runs at the goal at every opportunity and I know O’Neil has worked with him on that.

That was obvious for the second goal. It was maybe a lucky pass, or clearance, from Max Kilman – but Cunha was alive to it and it was a brilliant finish that gave him a lovely moment in front of the Wolves fans. It was pretty special and the fans have taken Cunha to their hearts for both his quality but also the way he has embraced the club and the city.

Kilman was also brilliant. He was solid, won everything and was stronger and quicker than any of the Albion players.

He was calm on the ball and a real leader.

Also, I love the way Tommy Doyle is going about his football. I watched him in the warm-up and his shooting and thought to myself – ‘this kid is going to be so good’. He’s almost De Bruyne-esque with the way he hits the football.

He has that tenacity, too. He knew it was a big game and you could tell by his approach to it. He was the one Wolves player that was adding some grit and bravery.

His passing was fabulous. One cross he put in was wonderful and Cunha almost got on the end of it.

Doyle has really grown as a footballer and that comes with games and minutes.

With Joao Gomes coming back from suspension, Doyle has put himself right in the mix and given O’Neil a big decision to make. It’s a good problem to have!

Off the field, the atmosphere was brilliant in the build-up to the game. The Wolves end was making some incredible noise and it was a special atmosphere.

It was reasonably well-behaved until the crowd trouble, and it’s real shame. The Wolves fans in the away end behaved impeccably, even when the trouble was going on.

The brutality on show, which seemed to be sparked by Wolves fans in the home end celebrating the Cunha goal, is something you don’t want to see at a football match.

I’m very surprised the game restarted as it was boiling over for quite a while. It was a sad sight to see families leaving because it wasn’t safe and I’d have done the same thing if I was there with my children.

Hopefully with all the technology inside football stadiums the perpetrators can be brought to justice. We don’t want these ‘fans’ inside stadiums.