Matheus Cunha was the hero of Wolverhampton’s victory against Brentford in the FA Cup. The striker converted a penalty in added time that sealed the score 3-2 in favor of the locals and their place in the next round.
It was the seventh goal in 22 games for the Brazilian, but it was not just another one. Wolves’ victory means they will now face West Bromwich, their classic rival, in a derby that has not been played with an audience for 12 years.
“Many fans said that we had to win because it is a great derby. “I am very happy to play derbies, I have played against Brazil-Argentina, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, and now I really want to play against West Brom and make history,” Cunha told his club’s official media.
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The last time these neighboring clubs faced each other was in 2021, when both were in the Premier League, but fans could not go to the stadiums due to the coronavirus pandemic protocol. The duel in the first round was 1-1 and the second round ended with a 3-2 victory for Albion.
With an audience present, the last precedent is from February 2012, also in the Premier League and with a 5-1 away victory for West Brom. The Albion are now in the second division, where they are in fifth place, while the Wolves are eleventh in the top flight of English football thanks to three wins in a row that allowed them to climb the table.
A duel with history
The Wolverhampton and West Bromwich stadiums are located a few kilometers apart in the same region of the West Midlands, in central England. Their clashes constitute the Black Country derby, in reference to the name by which the area in which they are located is known.
The first records of these duels date back to 1883, even before the formation of a league, in what constitutes one of the oldest derbies in history. The record is in favor of West Bromwich, which has won 65 games, with 53 wins for Wolverhampton and 44 draws.
