Wolves urged to stay grounded after Black Country derby triumph

Delighted boss Cesar Peixoto insisted Wolves must stay grounded after their Black Country derby triumph.

Wolves enjoyed victory over fierce rivals West Brom at a packed Molineux on Sunday thanks to Fer Lopez’s second-half goal.

They head into the lengthy international break inside the Championship play-off places and above their rivals, but Peixoto has urged his side to keep their feet on the ground.

“It’s important to win before the international break,” he told the Express & Star.

”It’s always better to rest after a win than when you haven’t won, and in this kind of game the victory means even more. But it’s still only three points.

“We have to keep our feet on the ground and continue working hard like we did before. When we draw or lose, everything isn’t bad. When we win, like we did today, we competed well and played well, but everything isn’t suddenly perfect either.

“We have to keep that mental stability and work hard until the end.”

Peixoto went wild inside his technical area when Lopez pounced on a defensive error to fire Wolves into the lead, before celebrating again with his players and staff at full-time.

It was a significant victory for Peixoto early in his reign at Wolves, and the smiling head coach heaped praise on his side for delivering on derby day.

Asked how he would celebrate, Peixoto added: “I have three friends from Portugal here, and I am going to celebrate with them, for sure!”

Wolves secured the victory without star striker Raul Jimenez and defender Ladislav Krejci, who felt a slight calf issue in training in preparation for the clash.

Peixoto suggested the defender, who will now head away on international duty with the Czech Republic, did not want to take any risks.

“He felt a little something in training and he didn’t want to take any risks,” he said.

“We played with the players who want to stay 100 per cent with the team and with the club, and we fought until the end to win the game.

“For me, the most important thing, like I say all the time, is the team - not player A, B or C. We stay together, stay organised and play with quality, and of course all the players are important, but I believe in all of them.

“I don’t know exactly what will happen. He (Krejci) will go to the national team, but when he comes back, he’s our player and I hope he'll stay well and fit to train and play.”