The Verdict: Regret as anxious West Brom froze - but perspective is welcome

A below-par Baggies were a distant second-best in a Black Country derby at Molineux.

It is not a fixture you want to be accused of not showing up in. And James Morrison's side can rightly have that laid at their door, which is the worst outcome in any heated rivalry.

The annals of history will read Wolves 1-0 Albion - but this was never a 1-0 game.

Baggies players owe goalkeeper Max O'Leary a pint or two during the international break. Were it not for the Irishman's superhero performance, particularly in the first half, it could have been a landslide victory for the hosts.

The performance was pretty ugly, and Morrison can at least be relieved his side were not smashed for four or five, because it could have easily have gone that way on another day.

One of Morrison's biggest wishes from his pre-match press conference on Thursday was that his vibrant, youthful Albion showed the version of themselves that has earned so many plaudits so far this season.

But Albion were a shadow of what they have delivered for many of the seven Championship plus cup games. Owner Shilen Patel and his Bilkul group saw a display in Wolverhampton well short of the standards Morrison demands and has come to expect.

Why was that the case on the big stage? There are probably many reasons.

"Anxiety" was the word used repeatedly by Morrison in his post-match press conference. There was no question the Baggies froze. It was a no-show.

Did the occasion get to a young Albion side? Potentially. But Morrison felt his side suffered for losing their way with the ball in the early stages. A stuttering start developed into full-blown lack of belief.

Home boss Cesar Peixoto agreed regarding style. He said he saw an Albion team playing the way they have enjoyed success so far this season.

Decisively, Albion did not want to budge from the football that has brought them victories.

That is no surprise. Morrison has crafted a side capable of winning games and playing stylish football at this level.

There were complaints Albion went against what has earned credit this term. That was not the case. The Baggies tried to do what has worked. That was even evident in Fer Lopez’s winner early in the second half.

Nat Phillips will be remembered as the villain of the piece. But if you want to play football building out from your own penalty box then errors will occur. They do so at the top of the game.

Morrison’s gripe in that regard was there were opportunities to move the ball forward, into midfield or out wide, but Albion tried to be ‘safe’ and turned backwards, showing anxiety, which led to trouble.

At Molineux, a lacklustre visiting side found an opponent too hot to handle. A harassing Wolves were relentless.

It is not that this new-look Baggies cannot go toe-to-toe with good sides. Albion played their own game at Newcastle United's St James' Park in the EFL Cup and pushed the Magpies all the way.

Wolves were too strong and Albion were well below-par - in every aspect.

Eight games into the Championship campaign and an extended three-week international break and Morrison’s men sit fifth in the second tier.

That is some going and a return of 14 points is a haul all Albion fans would have taken before a ball was kicked.

Taking a step back from the heat of a fierce derby day no-show disappointment and perspective shows a very encouraging start to the new season, particularly given the dismal season before that the Baggies are responding from.

Baggies supporters will take bright starts with a pinch of salt.

Ryan Mason delivered a high-flying return from five games last season before thing derailed spectacularly. A table-topping start under Carlos Corberan the year before petered out.

But the context is different here. Expectations are rightly lowered - or should be - and Morrison’s new-look side can be encouraged.

There are concerns, absolutely. The attack is one. Aune Heggebo looks a pale shadow of himself and was hauled off again after very few touches. Some of the new faces have struggled to settle and some need to get up to speed, quickly.

But beyond that there have been some very consistent performers to start the campaign.

It will be tough to stew on such a lacklustre display for several weeks. But Morrison and his players have earned a breather from a chaotic August and September.

This was no way to lose a derby and criticism is merited - but there are reasons to be optimistic when action returns next month.