Aune Heggebo planted his third goal of the 2026-27 season into the Racecourse Ground net in the 86th minute on Tuesday, and the West Bromwich Albion striker did not have to think twice about which away winner tasted sweeter.

The Norway forward's finish sealed a 2-1 victory at Wrexham, but the joy it brought stood in sharp contrast to the fallout from his previous away winner, scored at Carrow Road in mid-August. That goal, which helped the Baggies collect three points in Norfolk, was ruled to have been handled deliberately. A two-game ban followed, along with a wave of social media criticism that Heggebo has since worked to put behind him.

"It was a tricky start," he told BBC Radio WM. "But it's a long season. It's all about not stressing and trying to do the right things. Most of all I was frustrated. Something I didn't agree with, which is why I made the appeal. Sometimes unfair stuff like that happens. You just have to move on and not feel sorry for yourself."

An early-season bout of illness compounded the ban, leaving Albion's top scorer from the previous campaign playing catch-up before he had even hit his stride. The Wrexham goal, then, carries significance beyond the three points. It arrives after back-to-back Championship defeats either side of the international break, and it confirms that Heggebo remains capable of delivering the decisive moments West Brom need.

A striker who travels well

There is one curious thread running through Heggebo's goal record for Albion: all three strikes this season have come away from The Hawthorns, and every one of them has been the winning goal. In fact, he has scored just once at home since mid-December of last season, a drought that coincided with the long-term absence of winger Mikey Johnston through injury. Without Johnston's pace and crossing from the left, the service into Heggebo dried up, and his numbers at home suffered accordingly.

That context matters when assessing his current form. The Wrexham winner was not a fluke from a player running on confidence; it was a moment of composure from a striker who has had to manufacture his own momentum through a disrupted start.

"It's just a great feeling to be back, to be winning games again and to also score a goal," Heggebo said. "It gets us back on track and keeps us looking forward."

Blackburn next at The Hawthorns

The win at Wrexham lifts the mood in the Albion camp ahead of Saturday's home fixture against Tony Mowbray's Blackburn Rovers, with a 15:00 kick-off at The Hawthorns. After the double setback before the break, that result has steadied the Baggies and given Heggebo a platform to rebuild some momentum in front of his own supporters.

He is not attaching any specific target to his season, content instead to focus on performances and trust that goals will follow. Given that every one of his contributions so far has directly won a match, that measured approach is difficult to argue with.

For a player who endured a public controversy, a suspension and illness inside the opening weeks of the campaign, Tuesday night at Wrexham offered something simpler: the ball in the net, the final whistle, and three points on the road.

Frequently asked

How many goals has Aune Heggebo scored for West Brom this season?
Heggebo has scored three goals for West Brom in the 2026-27 Championship season, all of which have come away from The Hawthorns and each one has been a match-winner.
Why was Aune Heggebo banned earlier this season?
Heggebo received a two-game ban after the authorities ruled that he had deliberately handled the ball when scoring West Brom's winner at Carrow Road in mid-August 2026.
Who are West Brom playing next after the Wrexham win?
West Brom host Tony Mowbray's Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns on Saturday at 15:00.