Conor Coady makes promise to Wolves fans ahead of West Brom derby

Conor Coady has assured Wolverhampton Wanderers fans that the players are fully aware of what’s expected of them against West Bromwich Albion tomorrow.

Wolves host the first Black Country derby in nine years at Molineux and supporters – albeit watching from home once more – are eager for the current crop of stars to avenge that desperate 5-1 defeat in 2012.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s team are in the midst of a poor run of form in the Premier League, with five defeats and only one victory in their last eight matches – but Albion aren’t exactly doing any better.

They recently appointed Dudley-born Sam Allardyce – a Wolves fan in his youth – to replace Slaven Bilic as manager but things haven’t improved on the field.

In Allardyce’s first four league games in charge Albion have taken just one point and they’ve conceded 13 goals in the process to leave them 19th in the table.

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Wolves are favourites and, according to skipper Coady, fully understand the heated rivalry with their neighbours from across the Black Country.

“We’ve been looking forward to it for years, we’ve just not had a chance to play in it. It’s a game you want to play in when you join the club. The lads know the importance of the fixture and it’s a game we need to improve in.

“It’s just a shame we’ve got to do it in front of an empty stadium, that’s the worst thing about it, that’s the massive negative, but in terms of stature of game, we know all about it and can’t wait for it.

“Everybody, first and foremost, is a massive football fan in our team. We’ve all grown up supporting teams and watching derbies, and been involved in derbies as players, so we all know the significance of them when they come around and it’s no different with the Black Country derby.

“We’re all massively looking forward to it, me in particular, I knew all about it when I joined the football club and really wanted to be involved. Now it’s here, it’s absolutely fantastic, but it’s just a bit of a downer that we can’t have the Wolves fans in Molineux to experience it as well.”

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