Black Country Derby Build-up

The anticipation of a Black Country blockbuster at Molineux has often proved to be better than the realisation.

The South Bank will be electric as usual even with seats, everyone stands up just for the Albion game because it is that intense.

Wolverhampton and West Bromwich are separated by 10.6 miles, and nine points in the current Championship table.

If Tony Mowbray's men are so good, why are they behind Stoke, and level with Bristol City? They simply cannot defend in swinging set-plays. Watford on Saturday was just another example of that.

Thanks to soccerbase.com - http://www.soccerbase.com/head2.sd?team2id=2744&team1id=2848 - there is the historical evidence to suggest Wolves can head into next Saturday's equally vital game with Ipswich with their unbeaten run having reached six games.

And the overall league record between the two clubs, at Molineux and The Hawthorns, is 59 wins each.

They've often been dour affairs, wars of attrition. An exception was March 2001, George Ndah scoring twice in a 3-1 romp. Can't remember if it was a romp, but it sounds like a performance we could do with repeating on Tuesday.

The goalless draw at Bristol City didn't hurt Wolves too much. But Ipswich's East Anglian derby victory just ratchets up the pressure another notch.

And defeat against Albion would leave big question marks over Wolves' play-off prospects.

But Wolves fans are feeling more positive than that. Albion are beatable on their travels, no question. Barnsley, Preston, Ipswich, Stoke, Colchester, Southampton, Sheffield United and Burnley have proved that.

Put their defence under aerial pressure, close down tightly on Jonathan Greening in midfield, and defend with strength and 100 per cent concentration when Phillips, Miller or Bednar cross the halfway line and keep an eye on Gera and Koren. Simple!

It's not just about Albion though. It's about Wolves too. It's about Sylvan Ebanks-Blake finding space, it's about Matt Jarvis showing his pace and sorcery, it's about Seyi Olofinjana imposing himself, and it's about Wayne Hennessey playing like a Premier League goalkeeper in waiting.

But equally it's about us, the fans. From 7.40 to 9.30 we need to give everything. We need to roar like we've never roared before.

If your first instinct is to moan, count to 10 first. We've come this close, we've still a long journey to make.

By John Brey (BBC Championship 606 news reporter) and Gary Brookhouse http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A34579821