Wolves 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 (Gera 59)
It turned out to be a night of derby disappointment as West Bromwich took the honours and boosted their chances of automatic promotion with a 1-0 victory over Wolves at a rain swept Molineux.
Wanderers were unchanged for the visit of their arch rivals as Albion kicked off attacking the North Bank end in front of a capacity crowd.
An early move saw Ishmael Miller heading onto the roof of the net after a probing cross from Carl Hoefkens and the two combined again in the ninth minute when Miller turned and fired into Wayne Hennessey's arms after a low centre from his team-mate.
Matt Jarvis raced past Hoefkens and centred for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who headed over in Wolves' first meaningful attack.
There was a let off for the home side in the 12th minute when Jonathan Greening's free-kick dropped to Zoltan Gera and the Hungarian's shot smacked against the angle before bouncing to safety.
Neil Collins was penalised for a challenge on Kevin Phillips on the left-hand corner of the home area and Albion's leading scorer just failed to make contact as Gera's free-kick skidded through the six-yard box and out on the far side.
Then Hennessey got a hand to an angled Miller shot and the ball bounced off the inrushing Phillips and over the bar with the striker knowing little about things.
Michael Gray won possession the edge of the Albion area and rode two challenges before hitting a shot on the turn that was saved by Dean Kiely.
Seyi Olofinjana's drive went behind and the two Jarvis corners that followed led to nothing. But the next flag-kick from the winger resulted in a tremendous scramble in the Albion goalmouth with Jody Craddock, Collins and Andy Keogh all having shots blocked before the danger was cleared.
The visitors immediately broke from defence and Hennessey had to turn away a dangerous cross from James Morrison.
Three minutes before the break Hennessey came to the rescue with a fine save when he tipped over Neil Clements' free-kick from the edge of the box after Collins had fouled Miller.
In stoppage time Morrison took a pass from Greening and after his shot had been blocked by Craddock, Miller drove the rebound over.
Half-Time: Wolves 0 Albion 0
Roman Bednar replaced Miller at the start of the second-half which began with a Gray corner that came to nothing.
In the 51st minute a Jarvis centre was left by Robinson and Gray, sliding in at the far post, was a yard wide as he tried to convert.
The woodwork came to Wolves' rescue once more in the 58th minute when Phillips low drive stuck the far post after he had taken a pass from Bednar.
Worse followed a minute later when the unmarked Gera sidefooted home Phillips' cross from the left to give the Baggies the lead.
Kiely pushed away Jarvis's cross as Wolves looked to hit back but Albion went close again with Morrison hitting a 25-yard shot narrowly over the bar.
Midway through the half came Wolves best effort of the game - a searing 25-yard volley from Darron Gibson that Kiely managed to turn around the post at the last moment.
Freddy Eastwood replaced Gray for the final quarter of an hour. Three minutes later Jarvis' low centre went across the face of goal just too far in front of Keogh.
Shortly before the end there was a chance for Olofinjana who worked a shooting position for himself deep in the Albion box but Kiely saved at his near post.
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley (Kyle 81), Elokobi, Gibson, Craddock (capt), Collins, Jarvis, Keogh, Ebanks-Blake, Olofinjana, Gray (Eastwood 76).
Unused subs: Breen, Potter, Stack.
Booking: Elokobi (81 - foul).
West Bromwich: Keily, Hoefkins, Robinson, Barnett, Clements, Koren, Greening (capt), Gera, Miller (Bednar 45), Phillips (Pele 85), Morrison (Moore 90).
Unused subs: Martis, Brunt.
Booking: Greening (87 - unsporting behaviour).
Referee: M. Clattenburg.
Attendance: 27,883.
