There are derbies, and then there is the Black Country derby. When Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion share a division, supporters on both sides of the M6 know this fixture is the first one they look for in the fixture list. It is back as a Championship league match at Molineux in front of a crowd for the first time since January 2012 — and the weight of history is considerable.

138 years and still counting

The first league meeting between these two clubs took place in December 1888, the very first season of the Football League, when Wolves won 2-1. Albion, though, had already claimed the bragging rights in the two FA Cup encounters before that, in 1886 and 1887. Over the 138 years since, the ledger is closer than many assume: 55 league wins for Albion to Wolves' 52. That is a rivalry, not a dominance.

In more recent times, however, the picture tilts toward the Baggies. Since the turn of the Millennium, across 18 league and cup meetings, Albion have won 10 and Wolves just four. Wolves' most recent win came in the FA Cup fourth round at The Hawthorns in January 2024, a day that carried a sharp asterisk: play was halted for 38 minutes after police were assaulted, missiles thrown and flares set off. Both clubs issued a joint statement this week calling for the fixture to be contested without disorder.

The moments that live longest

Every generation of Black Country supporter has its derby landmarks. For the gold-and-black faithful: Steve Bull's first derby goal in 1989; George Ndah's double in 2001; Steven Fletcher's two-goal display in May 2011. For the stars-and-stripes side: Darren Bradley's 35-yard strike in 1993; Bob Taylor's late clincher in 1995; Jordao's Molineux winner in December 2001, the season Albion pipped Wolves for promotion by three points; Carlos Vela's injury-time equaliser in 2011.

And then, inevitably, there is the 5-1. February 2012. Wolves 1-5 Albion. Peter Odemwingie scored a hat-trick, Keith Andrews added a goal against his former club, and Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was gone by the following day. Wolves were relegated at the end of that season. Sunday's match is the first opportunity for a full Molineux crowd to witness any sort of response to a result that still stings in the city.

Managers who know the occasion

West Brom boss James Morrison, a player in five previous Black Country derbies, has taken preparation seriously enough to bring in one of the club's own historians to brief his squad on the full sweep of the fixture's heritage. Wolves counterpart Cesar Peixoto faces the game as a head coach without any personal experience of the derby, which lends his touchline role an extra layer of scrutiny.

The last time these clubs met in the Championship — as opposed to the top flight — was in May 2021, during the post-Covid campaign played behind closed doors. Albion took four points from the two meetings that season but were still relegated. Both clubs have since spent time in the Premier League before returning to the second tier, meaning they have shared a league only once in five years, and that season's derbies were played in empty stadiums.

What it means now

For neutral observers of the Championship, the return of a fully attended Molineux derby matters because the fixture drags supporters in who rarely follow a midweek Tuesday night at a ground nowhere near either city. For Wolves and West Brom fans, the context is simpler and sharper: this is the game, the one that sits separately from the promotion race, the table, the points total. Both clubs will tell you results elsewhere barely register on derby day.

The joint statement on fan behaviour this week used the sort of language press releases reach for when clubs are genuinely worried: "respectful", "united community", "proud tradition". The responsibility sits with supporters to give the occasion the atmosphere it deserves without the disorder that blotted the 2024 cup tie. The history of this fixture is far too good to be overshadowed by anything other than what happens on the pitch.

Frequently asked

When was the last Black Country derby at Molineux in front of fans?
The last time Wolves hosted West Brom at Molineux in front of a crowd in a league match was in January 2012, when Albion won 5-1. The most recent league derbies at Molineux were in the 2020-21 season but were played behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions.
Who has won more Black Country derbies overall?
Across their 138-year league history, West Brom edge it 55 wins to Wolves' 52. Since the year 2000, Albion have a more pronounced advantage, winning 10 of the 18 competitive meetings to Wolves' four.
Who are the Wolves and West Brom managers for the 2026 Black Country derby?
Wolves are managed by Cesar Peixoto, for whom this is his first Black Country derby as a head coach. West Brom are led by James Morrison, who played in five previous derbies during his time as a player at The Hawthorns.