‘Really special’ - Fer Lopez delighted after firing Wolves to derby-day triumph

Goal hero Fer Lopez hailed a “really special” moment after firing Wolves to Black Country derby delight.

Lopez’s second-half strike, his fourth goal of the Championship season, secured a memorable Molineux victory over fierce rivals West Brom.

The Spaniard then recreated Matheus Cunha’s celebration from Wolves’ previous derby at The Hawthorns in January 2024 as he celebrated with elation in front of the home supporters.

Asked about the moment, Lopez told Sky Sports “Really special. I knew the importance of this game, what to expect, all the build up to this game, all the fans.

“We knew from the beginning we had to get on the front foot. We were a bit disappointed to go in 0-0 (at half time).

“We had some good chances, me included, but we knew if we kept with our press we were going to score.

“But very happy, very happy to score. I knew if we kept playing, we were going to win the game.”

Lopez latched onto a defensive error and stray pass from Nat Phillips before calmly finishing past Albion goalkeeper Max O’Leary, who had produced several superb saves to keep Wolves at bay.

Kieran Trippier returned to the starting XI after recovering from injury and hailed the clash as one of the best derbies of his career.

“It was amazing,” he said. “The build-up to the game and John Ruddy for example spoke about how important it is.

“I've played in many derbies in my career but this is certainly up there for sure.

“In any derby it's about being on the front foot, being aggressive. Fair play to their keeper, he made some really good saves and we were disappointed to come in at half-time 0-0.

“But it's about keeping your head and keeping your 11 men on the pitch and that's why Fer is a top player and you need some magic sometimes and that's why he scored.”

Wolves secured the victory without two key players in injured Raul Jimenez and Ladislav Krejci.

Adam Armstrong led the line in Jimenez’s absence and played his part in the decisive goal, helping to force the defensive error with his pressing.

The forward said: “We knew what this game was going to be. A massive derby and we knew the fans were going to give us that extra lift in the end.

“I thought they were brilliant throughout the game, but the main thing was to get the win today.

“I thought the lads were excellent. On the ball, off the ball, creating chances. Their keeper pulled off some worldies and on another day it's three or four, but I'm very proud of the boys today.

“At half-time we knew we were doing really well, we just had to stick to the gameplan.

“We were creating a lot of chances, fair play to their keeper, but we stuck at it, stuck at the press, got it right at the right time then Lopez does what he does.”