James Morrison knows the upcoming Black Country derby carries a weight that the Championship table cannot measure. The former West Bromwich Albion midfielder, now part of the coaching staff, is ensuring the senior squad understands the fixture's unique emotional stakes for supporters ahead of Saturday's trip to face Wolves at Molineux.

"It goes far deeper than that," Morrison said. "I keep getting reminded by the fans about this game, and it's for them."

Morrison's derby history

His authority on the subject is rooted in personal experience. Morrison featured in five of these local clashes as a player, with his most famous contribution coming in the seismic 5-1 victory at Molineux in February 2012. That result, still celebrated as 'Wo1ve5' by Albion fans, was the club's biggest winning margin against their rivals in half a century. Morrison played a central role, providing two corners that led to goals and assisting the final two in a performance that secured his image a permanent place on the wall at The Hawthorns.

His derby journey began with a 1-0 win at Wolves' ground in 2008, a result that all but sealed Albion's promotion to the Premier League. He also scored a late equaliser in a key 1-1 draw at home during the 2011 relegation battle, a goal that arrived after his own shot was saved and Carlos Vela tapped in the rebound. The only blemish in his playing record against Wolves was a 3-1 defeat in May of his final season.

Passing on the passion

With only defender Conor Townsend in the senior squad having prior experience in this fixture, Morrison's insights are vital. He is tasked with translating decades of rivalry and passion to a group of players for whom it might otherwise be just another tough away game. The context of the current campaign adds its own edge. West Brom travel sitting fourth in the Championship with 14 points from seven games, their form reading two wins, two draws and one loss from the last five. Wolves, their hosts, are positioned seventh, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter that could influence the early promotion picture.

Albion's recent results have been mixed, with a 1-1 draw against QPR last time out preceded by a 1-0 win at Derby. Key attackers like Mikey Johnston and Nolan Galves remain sidelined, placing extra onus on the squad's collective understanding and spirit, which Morrison is helping to forge. The team's standings position is strong, but maintaining it requires handling fixtures like this one.

The next chapter

All focus now shifts to Molineux on Saturday, 20 September. For Morrison, the objective is clear: to channel the history, the noise, and the overwhelming desire of the Albion support into a performance that honours the occasion. His message is that three points here mean more than the same tally anywhere else. The club's full fixtures list shows this as the next major hurdle in a promising start to the season, and the squad's readiness, both tactically and emotionally, will be tested. The final preparation will involve reminding every player of the iconic moments, like the 5-1 win, that define this rivalry for a generation of supporters.