West Midlands Police have already issued a statement outlining how they plan to handle the Molineux crowd for the Black Country derby between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, September 20.
This comes after the previous competitive match between Wolves and the Baggies, an FA Cup fourth round fixture in January 2024, was severely disrupted by crowd disturbance in the second half at The Hawthorns.
However, this will be the first time the two rival fanbases have met for a league rivalry in West Virginia since Albion’s 5-1 away victory in February 2012, with their only league encounter since the 2020/21 Premier League season, which was hampered by COVID regulations.
Wolves had made a promising start in the Championship under newly hired Cesar Peixoto, but they suffered their first competitive defeat under the Portuguese against West Ham United at the London Stadium.
However, James Morrison’s team has also started the season well, led by the former Hawthorns cult hero, who guided the club to safety last season despite a two-point deduction.
As a result, a fiery but fascinating clash is due to take place at Molineux later this month, with a large police presence planned.
West Midlands Police issue a statement ahead of the Wolves vs West Brom clash.
As previously stated, this is the first league meeting between the two clubs in 14 years, as well as the first Championship match since the 2007/08 season, when West Brom won 1-0 in April 2008 on their way to winning the title under Tony Mowbray.
However, in the infamous FA Cup match two years ago, which was moved to an 11:45AM kick-off time on a Sunday, six arrests were made and play was suspended for 38 minutes owing to the chaos that followed Matheus Cunha’s goal after Pedro Neto put Wolves ahead in the first half.
West Midlands Police Superintendent Tim Robinson released a statement ahead of the clubs’ upcoming match.”This will be the first Black Country derby for fans to attend at Molineux in many years, and we know how much they will be looking forward to the fixture,”
he said.We’re collaborating with partners to organise a safe and enjoyable event for all.We have prior experience policing derby events in this region, and we will ensure that we have enough staff available on the day to give a visible presence and respond to any difficulties.”
Wolves and West Brom fans are eagerly expecting the Black Country derby comeback.
Unsurprisingly, the unexpected reappearance of one of the country’s most bitter rivalries has sparked excitement among both sets of supporters and neutrals.
Wolves vs WBA – Last 10 encounters
Date
Fixture
Score
Competition
28 January 2024.
West Brom versus Wolves
0-2
FA Cup
3 May 2021
West Brom versus Wolves
1-1
The Premier League
16 Jan 2021
Wolves versus West Brom
2-3
The Premier League
12 Feb 2012
Wolves versus West Brom
1-5
The Premier League
16 Oct 2011
West Brom versus Wolves
2-0
The Premier League
8 May 2011
Wolves versus West Brom
3-1
The Premier League
20 Feb 2011
West Brom versus Wolves
1-1
Premier League, April 15, 2008
Wolves versus West Brom
0-1
Championship
25 Nov 2007
West Brom versus Wolves
0-0
Championship
16 May 2007
West Brom versus Wolves
1-0
Championship Play-offs
As a result, West Brom reported that the club’s allocation of 2,250 away tickets had been sold out as of August 21st, leaving no seats available in Molineux’s home sections.
It is one of two high-profile Championship games taking place that weekend, with Millwall hosting West Ham 24 hours earlier, and both have been scheduled for television coverage.
Wolves have another Midlands rivalry to overcome before the West Brom test.
Wolves fans have become accustomed to competing with Aston Villa for supremacy in the West Midlands, but this season has altered everything.
And, while the Black Country derby against West Brom was the first fixture everyone at Molineux was looking forward to, with the return in B71 in February, Wanderers must first overcome another local rivalry.
The club will face Birmingham City this weekend, with a live broadcast at noon on Sunday. This is their first match against the Blues since a 2-0 victory in April 2018, a day after securing promotion to the Premier League under Nuno Espírito Santo.
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