West Brom claim dropped on "doomed" rivals Wolves - Black Country derby return in 2026/27 may be inevitable | OneFootball

FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has discussed whether a Black Country derby against Wolves could be on the cards next season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Despite showing inconsistency in the Championship under Ryan Mason, West Brom fans will be grinning from ear-to-ear at the current state of bitter Black Country rivals Wolves.

Vitor Pereira’s men have had a dismal start to the Premier League campaign, failing to pick up a victory from their opening nine top-flight games and suffering a late defeat at the hands of Burnley last weekend.

This prompted toxic scenes at Molineux as supporters clashed against players and staff, with Pereira and striker Jorgen Strand Larsen both videoed engaging in hostile confrontations.

Tensions are beginning to boil over as the reality sets in that Wolves could be making a return to the second-tier for the first time since 2018.

Meanwhile, West Brom fans aren’t expecting promotion back to the big time themselves, with the Baggies showing far too much inconsistency at this moment in time to truly warrant a place in the promotion conversation.

With Albion expected to remain in the Championship and Wolves likely to be relegated, the 2026-27 Championship season has the mouth-watering prospect of hosting a Black Country derby in the league for the first time since 2008.

Of course, it was two seasons ago when we saw the passion of the occasion when the two sides met in the FA Cup, although there were some unsavory scenes that did put a dampener on such an electric atmosphere.

With this in mind, FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has spoken about whether he sees Wolves returning to the Championship next season and if there will be a Black Country derby in the second-tier again.

West Brom fan pundit backs Black Country derby to return in 2026-27

Speaking to Football League World, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess has admitted that Wolves look “doomed” this season in the Premier League, and with Albion unlikely to gain promotion, backs a Black Country derby to unfold next term.

Callum said: “It definitely looks like next season that we’ll be seeing a Black Country derby once again.

“Looking at Wolves at the minute, they seem doomed, and after giving up those points to Burnley, going down 2-0, getting it back to 2-2 just to lose in the last minute, and the scenes afterwards with Vitor Pereira and Jorgen Strand Larsen arguing with the fans, it looks like a recipe for a relegation season.

“With Albion’s drop in form as well, it’s very much us trying to get a spot in the play-offs, let alone being promoted, so definitely, next season, it seems the Black Country derby will be returning once again.”

West Brom v Wolves games will be a standout in the 2026-27 Championship calendar

The Black Country derby is usually undermined by general football supporters across the country, but it brings out fiery passion, hostility and the desire to win among working-class people in the West Midlands.

It’s also between two clubs who were founding members of the Football League, so it’s a fixture steeped in tradition, while the atmosphere is cauldron-like regardless of either it being at The Hawthorns or Molineux.

As previously mentioned, we got a feel of what it was like during the FA Cup two seasons ago, when Wolves got the better of West Brom, and while sections of supporters let themselves down, it was a fierce and frenetic stadium to be at as both sets of fans gave everything to spur their side on to claim victory.

After waiting so long for a derby in the league, you would expect both games in the second-tier between these sides to have a similar, if not better, atmosphere compared to the cup clash, and if both sides are in the Championship next term, it will be dates to circle in the calendar for when the teams lock horns.