Aune Heggebo admits he enjoyed Tuesday night's late winner at the Racecourse Ground considerably more than the controversy that surrounded his first Championship goal of the campaign back in August.

A goal that came with baggage

The Norway striker's 75th-minute strike at Carrow Road in mid-August earned West Brom a 2-1 victory on a hot afternoon in Norfolk, but the celebrations were short-lived. The goal was deemed by the authorities to have been handled deliberately, and Heggebo was handed a two-game ban. A social media storm followed, complicating what had already been a difficult early-season spell that included a bout of illness.

"It was a tricky start," Heggebo 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."

Back on track at the Racecourse

His 86th-minute goal at Wrexham on Tuesday gave the Baggies a 2-1 victory and arrived at a significant moment: Albion had suffered two consecutive defeats either side of the international break, and the mood around the club had dipped noticeably. According to the BBC report, the winner has helped restore confidence across the entire squad.

"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."

All three of his Albion goals this season have come away from home, and all three have secured away victories. That is an unusual pattern for any striker, and it is one that the club will be keen to see broken as the Hawthorns schedule thickens up. According to the BBC, Heggebo has in fact scored just once at home since mid-December last season, a run partly attributed to the loss of winger Mikey Johnston through injury, whose absence disrupted Albion's attacking rhythm over the second half of the previous campaign.

Saturday's home test against Blackburn

The timing of the Wrexham winner is particularly welcome with Blackburn Rovers, managed by Tony Mowbray, visiting The Hawthorns on Saturday (15:00 BST). Having arrested a losing run with a midweek away triumph, West Brom will be looking to carry that momentum into a home fixture where their record in front of their own supporters remains something of a talking point.

Heggebo is not attaching any specific goal targets to the remainder of the season, preferring instead to focus on collective output. "It's all about not stressing," he repeated, a phrase that seems to have become something of a personal mantra since August's disciplinary troubles.

That measured approach will suit a West Brom side that needs consistency above individual milestones as the Championship season develops. Two defeats on the bounce had threatened to undo some of the early promise, and a 2-1 away win, however late and however hard-fought, is precisely the kind of result that steadies a dressing room.

Whether Heggebo can finally add a home goal to his tally against Blackburn on Saturday remains to be seen, but the smile is evidently back, and for a striker who was West Brom's top scorer last season, that will be encouraging news for supporters heading to The Hawthorns this weekend.

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 in away fixtures and all of which have secured 2-1 wins for the Baggies.
Why was Heggebo banned earlier this season?
Heggebo received a two-game ban after the football authorities ruled that a goal he scored at Carrow Road in mid-August had been handled deliberately with his arm, a decision he subsequently appealed.
When do West Brom play Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns?
West Brom host Blackburn Rovers, managed by Tony Mowbray, at The Hawthorns on Saturday at 15:00 BST.