Wolverhampton Wanderers

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You could almost feel a collective eye-roll across Wolverhampton on Monday as news emerged of Fer Lopez arriving home early from international duty with Spain Under-21s.

While the word went out the reported 'physical discomfort' was a minor issue and probably not much to worry about, it was not hard to find fans thinking this was typical of Wolves in 2026.

Just as things are starting to go well, something would have to happen to the leading light of their season so far, wouldn't it?

It is an understandable reflex.

Perhaps Cesar Peixoto will be able to tell us a little more at his Friday press conference, although the teamsheet on Saturday at Middlesbrough will be the definitive word.

Hopefully the likeable Lopez, who was in bubbly mood after scoring in the Black Country derby last time out, will be able to shrug it off in time to play at The Riverside.

It is though a reminder Wolves will not be able to gain promotion this season by hanging their hopes on one player, even one blossoming as rapidly as Lopez.

Yes, he would be in everyone's best XI at the moment and given his early form no Wolves fan would want to go into a game without him.

But the days when claiming a manager "doesn't know his best XI" was a justifiable protest have passed.

Lopez is a prime asset in this Wolves squad and will surely be too important to take a risk with at this early stage of the season.

With luck, he will be fine and good to go on Saturday, but if not there will be opportunities for others, perhaps Jordan James to fill the gap.

That could be a good outcome too, as the more Wolves' players who can be kept sharp by sharing in regular action, the better.

They will all be needed at some stage. It is in periods like the one about to start that clubs with the stronger squads in the Championship, as Wolves appeared to be just before the break, should be able to make that count.

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We're back with a bang after the international break as Middlesbrough mark their 150th anniversary with the visit of Wolves to the Riverside (15:00 BST).

Going into the weekend Boro sit third, a point ahead of Wolves, who have played one game fewer.

Both sides have lost just once in the Championship this season, and, depending on West Ham's result on Friday night and Swansea's on Saturday lunchtime, could be in position to take over at the top of the table with a win on Teesside.

• This is the first league meeting between Middlesbrough and Wolves since the 2017-18 season, when Wolves won both games (1-0 home, 2-1 away) on their way to winning the Championship title.

• Wolves are looking to win three consecutive league games against Middlesbrough for the first time.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in six Championship games (W3 D3), last enjoying a longer unbeaten run in their first eight games last season under Rob Edwards.

• Wolverhampton Wanderers have won four of their past six league games (D1 L1), more than in their previous 43 combined (W3 D13 L27). They are looking to keep three clean sheets in a row for the first time since January 2022, while they last won three in a row without conceding in June 2020.

• Only one player has made more dribbles in the Championship this season than Wolves' Mateus Mane (32). It's the most per 90 minutes (5.8) by a Wolves player in a league season since Adama Traore in 2022-23 (6.1).

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Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Fer Lopez has left Spain's Under-21 camp with a minor injury issue.

The 22-year-old featured in Spain's U21 game against Finland at the start of the international break but was not included in the squad for their victory over San Marino on Thursday.

Lopez, who has scored four goals in seven league matches for Wolves, has returned to England for assessment.

Wolves next play Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Image source, Getty Images

"I'm not going out for drinks today!" said Fer Lopez to the suggestion that after scoring the winner in a Black Country derby, he would never have to take his wallet out at the bar in Wolverhampton ever again.

As he left after the interview, I assured him that if he returned to Molineux decades from now, people would talk to him about that goal. He will find out one day.

Such are the lasting emotions of a derby, a match which marked an end to a bad summer for hot takes in Wolverhampton.

At the end of May, it appeared that Wolves were going to back Rob Edwards and make a radical overhaul by sweeping away most of last season's squad, knowing they would fail in the Championship otherwise.

Well, taking those three ideas in order: they didn't; they didn't, at least not fully; but, so far, they haven't. Wolves' summer did not follow the course they indicated, or that many outside expected.

The Championship is a confusing enough place anyway, but Wolves' slaloming course through the early fixtures has made their prospects quite hard to read.

One of the most engaging calls on the Radio WM Football Phone-In so far this season came just after the transfer window, from a Wolves fan who tore into the club's approach: they hadn't spent enough, they had sold players they should have kept, and kept players they should have jettisoned at any price, the manager was unproven – all told, a rolling nightmare.

"Where will you finish?" asked my colleague Daz Hale. "Oh, second - we'll go up." Righto.

Yet now, just a few weeks later, after the smooth deconstruction of their neighbours last time out, he may be proved right.

A clear style under Cesar Peixoto, apparent from early on, is now working more efficiently than in the wild early games at West Ham and Birmingham.

But some of the assumed key players in the squad have played only small parts so far: Raul Jimenez missed the derby with his leg in a brace and Kieran Trippier – while excellent – has started only twice in the league.

Instead, Lopez has been the key creator with the tireless Marshall Munetsi, previously unappreciated by many fans, the regular starter alongside him.

Nasser Djiga, who, like Lopez, struggled last season before being loaned out, looks an automatic choice on recent form. Toti was steadfast alongside him against Albion.

Wolves are making progress with a team largely made up of players that fans thought a few months ago would or should be gone by now. How the world turns. The unlikely lads are on the march.

BBC Radio WM Football Phone-In is weeknights 18:00-19:00 BST

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

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This was probably the most comprehensive 90-minute performance Wolves have produced so far this season.

The team has not fully clicked yet, and there is still a long way to go, but that is what makes this result so encouraging.

Wolves are showing signs of becoming a side capable of controlling matches in different ways, even while there is still plenty of room to improve.

The 1-0 scoreline does not tell the full story.

West Brom had more possession, but Wolves controlled the parts of the game that mattered. They pressed with purpose, won the important duels, created the better chances and defended their lead with impressive discipline.

That is a significant step forward.

There was a clear plan from Cesar Peixoto, and the players carried it out with real belief.

Wolves pressed high when the opportunity was there, but also knew when to drop into a more organised shape. West Brom were rarely allowed to build any meaningful momentum, managing only 0.27 expected goals and one shot on target against Jose Sa.

At the other end, Wolves created 1.96 expected goals, had six shots on target and repeatedly caused problems from set-pieces.

Fer Lopez's winning goal was also a product of the team's aggressive pressing. Wolves forced the mistake and punished it.

The contribution of the crowd should not be overlooked. Molineux was loud from the start and stayed fully engaged through the tense final stages.

This was the first Black Country derby at the stadium in 14 years with supporters present, and the fans made sure the players understood exactly what the occasion meant. Their backing helped Wolves maintain their intensity when tired legs and nerves began to show.

Kieran Trippier also explained that John Ruddy, who returned to Wolves this summer after a successful first spell, spoke to the squad before the game about the importance of the derby.

Trippier said Ruddy's words helped inspire the team, adding that, despite playing in many derbies, this one was "certainly up there".

Wolves now have 14 points from seven games and are beginning to look like a side that expects to win.

This felt like more than three points. It felt like a statement of intent.

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We asked for your thoughts after Wolverhampton Wanderers' 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in Sunday's derby encounter.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Dave: Absolutely battered the Baggies, rock solid at the back and although we didn't dominate possession, we created almost all of the chances. They never looked like scoring, even from set-pieces. Only their GK kept the score respectable. Convincing victory even without two of our best players (Raul and Krejci).

Brian: Much better, hard work, tough tackles, making chances. This is exactly what the fans want to see and needs to be the standard every week.

Robert: Wolves were brilliant for the vast majority of the game. Every player was on the money from the kick-off. Need to repeat this level regularly to win promotion though.

Simon: Great high pressure performance which provided the right result. However Wolves, at home, need to convert their chances when they're on top, to avoid nervy final minutes. They also need to learn to stop playing too deep when going ahead, instead continue persevering with the high tempo football to reap the rewards they deserve.

James: Wolves did well. Limited Albion threat to a minimum. Scored the important goal that wins the tight local derby.

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom fans

Jonathan: Derby loss hurts but response is more important. O'Leary superb. When facing high press defenders need to know when to get rid. Quicker interplay up front needed to create chances. Potential is there for rest of season.

Paul: We were never in the game, you could say we froze. Our young players will learn from this game and hopefully will return to how we have played this season.

Mac: Poor passing, no person with any aggression for a derby, no passion, no-one with any idea how to score a goal, if it wasn't for O'Leary or could have been 4-0.

Peter: We were the better side and lost by a stupid mistake by Phillips. But that's football for you.

Stephen: Midfield needs sorting, Price corner kicks are not good enough, need to play a winger. You can't play Price and Whitwell in the same team. Styles need to be down the left, makes room for Price, gives him room to operate. Totally out-played and out-fought.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport England

Image source, Adam Fradgley - Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion boss James Morrison summed up the defining moment of the 2026 Black Country derby by admitting: "You can't gift goals like that."

But he then threw a protective arm round the shoulder of the culprit, defender Nat Phillips, whose poor backpass let in Wolves frontman Fer Lopez for the game's only goal..

"He owned up to his mistake," said Morrison. "But Nat's been immense over the last couple of weeks.

"We had loads of time. There was a gap to play the ball forwards and we turned it down. That's what I'm disappointed in.

"In games like this, you have to be able to deal with the pressure. We just didn't have that belief. We went backwards and we did that too many times.

"We caused our own anxiety and that gave them a lift. They had the belief they could come after us and get success from it.

"I was delighted to get to half-time at 0-0. Max O'Leary made some fantastic saves and I thought we can have a reset. But we went backwards. Maybe it was just a bit of being safe rather than getting forwards and imposing ourselves.

"We made too many mistakes and you can't do that in a game like this.

"We didn't have the quality at the top end of the pitch and that's something we're going to have to address. But mistakes happen. Now I want to see a reaction."

The only frustration for the Albion boss after suffering only his second defeat in eight Championship games this season - and only their third in 19 league games going back to February - is that they must now wait until 10 October after the extended international break before they host their next game, another derby against Birmingham City.