Albion must take their Molineux medicine but first block has heartened

Me writing in this piece to tell you, an Albion fan, that you should maintain perspective after what is unquestionably a difficult score-line to take might result in you punching the screen of the device you’re reading this on.

It is horrible to lose a derby, of any kind, let that not go without saying. That week at Villa Park still makes me shudder. Even in more recent times surrendering local bragging rights to Blues - up next, of course - at St Andrew’s is not particularly palatable.

Albion could generally make their peace with the FA Cup defeat to Wolves a couple of years ago. There was a begrudging acknowledgement that could not be denied - Wolves were playing at a higher level and had two goalscorers who have since left for Chelsea and Manchester United in deals worth in the region of a combined £100m.