The verdict: Wolves answered the Black Country derby challenge

Step forward Fer Lopez, who delivered a historic and memorable Molineux victory in front of a raucous home crowd, making it back-to-back Black Country derby wins and channelling his inner Matheus Cunha with his celebration.

Wolves were superb. They pressed relentlessly, ran themselves into the ground, fought for every ball and scrapped for every inch. They executed Cesar Peixoto’s plan with conviction and, despite being denied time and again, eventually found a way through.

The goal itself was not the product of one of the many chances Wolves had crafted. It came from a mistake they had forced, their relentless pressure eventually telling as Nat Phillips’ loose pass presented Lopez with his moment.

A derby gift? Perhaps. Wolves and their supporters will not care one bit. They deserved this.

Peixoto had spent the build-up trying to explain to his players what this fixture meant, particularly to a squad experiencing a Black Country derby at Molineux for the first time.

By the final whistle, there could be little doubt they had got the message.

This feels like a significant moment in the Portuguese head coach’s early Molineux reign.

The Black Country derby is one of English football’s oldest and fiercest rivalries. For generations it has gripped the region, producing the sort of occasions when form, league positions and squad values can become almost irrelevant.

This time, though, Wolves’ quality told.

Steve Bull was the face of the matchday programme. The club legend has written his own chapters in this rivalry and scored some hugely significant goals against the Baggies.

Those memories were not left in the history books. They were shown to Wolves’ players on videos around the training ground during the build-up - a reminder from the past of precisely what this fixture means in the present.

This was about pride, pressure, passion and bragging rights. And for Wolves, it was the most significant game of their season so far.

The supporters knew exactly what was at stake - and played their part. The noise from the stands was relentless, particularly when Lopez struck. You suspect it could have been heard all the way across the Black Country.

There had been plenty of talk before kick-off about the absence of Raul Jimenez.

Jimenez watched from the stands and was serenaded by the home support, while Ruben Neves was also present to watch his former club.

Both are reminders of the heights Wolves have reached in recent years. There have been plenty of memorable days during their time at Molineux, and this one will sit comfortably among them.

From the outset, there was a fight about Wolves. They moved the ball with purpose, switched play well and attacked with pace, with Rodrigo Gomes and Mateus Mane stretching Albion on the flanks.

They repeatedly penetrated the visitors’ defence and, for long spells, barely allowed them out of their own half.

Goalkeeper Max O’Leary was outstanding for Albion. His saves to deny Nasser Djiga and Marshall Munetsi were crucial.

Meanwhile, Albion were afforded no time on the ball. Andre led the charge in midfield, setting the tone for the fight and intensity Peixoto had demanded. There were also important interventions at the other end when the visitors did manage to break through.

Wolves could have been several goals ahead by half-time. But instead, patience was required.

It paid off soon after the restart.

Nat Phillips had been hounded by Mateus Mane, Adam Armstrong and Lopez, and the pressure told when the defender’s loose pass fell straight to the Spaniard.

Lopez needed no second invitation. He clipped the ball cheekily beyond O’Leary and sent Molineux into delirium.

Cue bedlam - and a familiar celebration. The 22-year-old recreated Cunha’s celebration from the previous derby clash in 2024.

Lopez has now written his name into derby history. It was another moment from a player enjoying an outstanding start to the season.

Wolves knocked on the door for a second, but it never came. But in the end, it did not matter.

They had to withstand some late pressure, but Albion never truly laid a glove on the hosts.

There are victories, and there are victories that tell you something about a team. This was the latter.

After all the hype, expectation and noise surrounding the first Black Country derby of the season, few victories could have carried quite the same weight. Wolves delivered when it mattered most.