ONE WIN IN THE BAG...
Big Sam: This means so much to us
MATHEUS PEREIRA would not have known about the history of the Black Country derby during his formative years in Belo Horizonte and Lisbon.
But the Brazilian is now a Hawthorns hero after two ice-cool finishes from the penalty spot gave West Brom hope – and local bragging rights.
Twice Pereira was challenged to stare into the whites of Rui Patricio’s eyes from 12 yards.
And both times he sent Wolves’ Portuguese international the wrong way, clipping his first effort to the keeper’s left and then burying his second in the opposite corner.
It gave Dudley-born Sam Allardyce his first win as Baggies boss.
And as well as lifting Albion hopes of avoiding the drop, it also dragged the neighbours further towards trouble.
Allardyce forgave his players for their celebratory huddle at the final whistle – despite losing keeper Sam Johnstone and Matt Phillips before the game when they tested positive for coronavirus.
“I wanted to kiss the players myself,” he said.
“We spent an hour talking to the Premier League, the LMA and the PFA about the need for players to restrain themselves when they celebrate.
“But it’s cosmetic. I was told there’s no scientific proof that you can pass on coronavirus celebrating a goal. But it does send out the wrong message and I think things will improve.
“This win means so much, to the players and the fans. I hope we have given them something to celebrate and cheer in these difficult times.
“But our heads are still under the water and we are still drowning.
“If we want to get our heads above the water then there’s some massive graft ahead of us.”
Nine games ago, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team were being touted as possible top-four contenders. Then Raul Jimenez suffered a sickening skull fracture and Wolves have gone into free-fall. Teenager Fabio Silva scored his first Molineux goal with a smart 38th-minute finish to cancel out Pereira’s first penalty.
And Willy Boly put the home side ahead before the break from close range. But Wolves have problems at both ends.
They have now gone 12 games without a clean sheet and when Nuno (above) hauled off skipper Conor Coady and abandoned a back four to revert to a more familiar three-man defence it illustrated the uncertainty of the Portuguese. Nuno said: “We don’t look at the table. We only look at how we do things – and we are not doing things well. We are disappointed we could not give the fans what we wanted to give them.
“There is only one solution – to go to the training ground and work.
“I still have confidence in the players. We are not in a good moment, but the unity will never go away.”
With Robert Snodgrass making his Baggies debut, the visitors played on early Wolves nerves.
And they were ahead in the eighth minute when Callum Robinson lured Boly into a challenge that floored him just inside the box. Pereira did the rest – before cupping his ears towards the empty Sir Jack Hayward stand that is usually home to Wolves’ most vocal fans.
The contest turned Wolves’ way when Silva and Boly both struck inside six minutes just before the break. Silva, 18, the club’s record £35million signing, slid an unerring finish past West Brom’s stand-in keeper David Button after Boly’s clever back-heel.
And then Boly lashed home after the visitors twice failed to clear Ruben Neves’ corner.
But Albion responded to Big Sam’s half-time words.
They were level in the 52nd minute when Dara O’shea’s long throw enabled Semi Ajayi to loop home a header.
“Wolves struggle with set-plays and it was something we worked on all week,” said Allardyce.
Four minutes later, the lead changed for a last time. Once again Robinson was taken out – this time by Coady – and Pereira got the better of Patricio.
We are not doing things well. We are disappointed. There is only one solution – to go to the training ground and work
COOL DELIVERY Matheus Pereira scores from the spot for West Brom’s opening goal