Understrength Albion suffered only their second Amex loss in the Premier League since August when they went down 1-0 to Wolves on Wednesday night.
Covid, injury and suspension robbed Graham Potter of several key players including Neal Maupay, Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and Shane Duffy but Albion made light of their absence for much of the first half, when they were the better side.
The game was effectively decided in a two-minute spell in first-half stoppage time. Romain Saiss put Wolves ahead before Enock Mwepu somehow missed from three yards moments later and Albion didn’t really create as clear an opportunity as that in the second half.
Wolves had not been beaten in 38 of their previous 39 League games when they had gone in front and that record rarely looked under threat. In fact, the visitors could have added to their lead with Saiss hitting the post and Rob Sanchez making some crucial saves on what turned into a frustrating night for Albion.
Potter was forced to make several changes to the squad although there were only three new faces in the starting XI compared to last time out against Southampton. Aaron Connolly, who scored when the sides last met at the Amex in January, started his first League game of the season and Jakub Moder and Solly March were recalled. The bench had three under-23s, including 17-year-old striker Evan Ferguson.
Wolves suffered a blow before kick-off when Rayan Alt-Nouri was injured in the warm-up, and they had to make another change in the 11th minute when South Korean striker Hwang Hee-Chan limped off.
By then Albion were into their stride and dominating the ball, although they struggled to threaten much impression from a series of set-pieces. Mwepu fired straight at Jose Sa with an early sighter and the hosts crafted a better chance when the Zambian’s lovely pass put March in down the right but he sliced his shot disappointingly wide of the near post. It wasn’t until the 27th minute before Sanchez was called upon to save Ruben Neves' 25-yarder.
But there was nothing Sanchez could do when Wolves opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time. Yves Bissouma cleared a corner only as far as Neves and he clipped a clever pass over Bissouma to Saiss, who side-footed the ball calmly past Sanchez into the far corner.
Albion should have levelled straight away. Moder’s free-kick from the right was only cleared to Leo Trossard. The Belgian’s powerful drive was parried by Sa to Mwepu, but he somehow scooped the ball over from deep inside the six-yard box.
Albion nearly conceded a freak second just after the break. Marcel made a galloping run down the left and lifted the ball over Sanchez and onto the top of the bar. Wolves threatened again when Adama Traore countered at pace and picked out Francisco Trincao, but Sanchez stood up and blocked his shot with his legs for a corner.
That was only taken several minutes later while referee Tony Harrington sorted out a problem with his mic, a delay which only added to the frustration of Albion fans. When the corner did come in it eventually fell to Saiss and Sanchez showed terrific reflexes to push his low, angled effort onto the post.
Albion were living dangerously. Two more counters on a suddenly stretched home defence brought chances for Joao Moutinho and Daniel Podence, both of which required Sanchez saves. With an hour gone, the hosts were perhaps fortunate only to be a goal down.
Mwepu should have tested Sa in the 62nd minute but he couldn’t control the ball at the far post when Moder’s free-kick from the right eluded a clutch of players massed on the six-yard line.
The crowd’s mood didn’t improve when the referee disappeared down the tunnel to have more running repairs to his communication equipment then Bissouma was booked for a foul on Marcal, his fifth caution which meant a ban for Saturday’s game at Old Trafford.
Mac Allister fired over from the edge of the box after a good spell and Wolves had settled for what they had before 11 minutes of stoppage time were announced. Albion kept plugging away but two free-kicks in dangerous positions came to nothing and Wolves had their first top-flight win at the Amex.
Albion: Sanchez, Lamptey, Veltman, Burn, Cucurella, Bissouma (Lallana 83), Mwepu (Richards 83), March, Moder, Trossard, Connolly (Mac Allister 60).
Subs not used: Scherpen, Alzate, Roberts, Leonard, Turns, Ferguson.