Team news

O'Hara hails Bassong signing Jamie O'Hara is convinced new Wolves signing Sebastien Bassong will shore up a defence guilty of shipping sloppy goals ahead of the derby clash with West Brom at Molineux.

Midfielder O'Hara knows all about Bassong's qualities from their spell together with Tottenham.

O'Hara moved to Molineux during the 2011 January transfer window and now Bassong has made the temporary switch from White Hart Lane until the end of the season and impressed in a debut win at QPR.

O'Hara, who is optimistic of overcoming a groin injury in time to face the Baggies, said: "Seb really is a top-class international player.

"When Tottenham qualified for the Champions League, he played every game that season.

"I always said if we got Bassong in, he'd be a fantastic player for us, so I'm so glad that the chairman (Steve Morgan) and the manager (Mick McCarthy) managed to do that.

"You could see his quality against QPR. He's good on the ball, he's got pace and he's definitely going to strengthen us.

"He's a proper centre-half and he's a good ball player as well. He's an excellent defender and fair dos to the manager for getting someone of his ability." O'Hara believes Wolves need 14 more points to clinch a fourth successive season of top-flight football.

He is also hoping to have the same impact as in the second half of last season after returning from a two-month absence following double hernia surgery.

O'Hara said: "I think we need another four wins and hopefully we'll get a couple of draws as well.

"We've got a fantastic squad and we shouldn't be where we are. We need to change it around but I still think we can make this season a good one.

"As for me, I'm looking to have that same sort of impact again as I did last year and help us stay up.

"Being out of the side for a couple of months means I feel fresh and really hungry to get back.

"It's a huge game against West Brom. We both need the points." McCarthy will be without Emmanuel Frimpong, who has returned to Arsenal after rupturing knee ligaments, and the suspended Karl Henry while another midfielder in Dave Edwards is battling to overcome a thigh injury.

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson has said he will not be influenced by Shane Long's barnstorming display in October's Black Country derby when deciding if the forward is fit enough to start.

Long was a key player in the Baggies' 2-0 win over Wolves, creating a number of opportunities with his strength and pace.

The former Reading striker has missed his team's last two matches due to chest pains, but has been training this week and should be available for selection.

However, head coach Hodgson revealed he hasn't asked Long for 'more of the same' this weekend, as the performance didn't stick in his mind.

"I don't base my decision on games that are going to be played in February on the basis of a game that was played in October," he said.

"To be frank, I can't remember if he played well or badly in that game. But I'm glad to hear he played well.

"I think he was having a good spell at that time so it doesn't surprise me.

"It's more a question of whether we start him after the fact that he hasn't played in the last month or so." Hodgson added that Long's condition hasn't affected his mental state.

"His frame of mind's very good," Hodgson said.

"He's a very enthusiastic person who loves to play football, and I think he seems to be happy to be rid of his two back-to-back injuries that pushed him out." For the first time in a number of weeks, Hodgson has a large and healthy squad to pick from, with long term absentees Chris Brunt (ankle) and Zoltan Gera (cruciate ligament) the only men certain to miss the match.

And the former Liverpool boss believes his selection luxuries mean the Baggies have no excuses if they lose at Molineux.

He said: "We've gone from a situation where it wasn't always easy to fill the bench with senior players to suddenly having everyone except Gera and Brunt fit and ready for action.

"One or two are a bit short of match practice perhaps, but they are all physically fit and ready to play.

Wolverhampton vs West Brom

Last modified 15:47 12/02/12

Odemwingie inspires five-star Baggies Hat-trick hero Peter Odemwingie earned West Brom a 5-1 victory in the Black Country derby and increased the pressure on Wolves boss Mick McCarthy after the home side were demolished at Molineux.

Odemwingie earned Albion their sixth away success of the campaign and it was no more than they deserved after a woeful performance by the home side.

Several unhappy Wolves fans vented their anger towards owner Steve Morgan and chief executive Jez Moxey in the directors box in the closing stages as their side were ripped apart.

Steven Fletcher cancelled out Odemwingie's opener in first-half injury-time. But Jonas Olsson restored Albion's lead before further goals from Odemwingie and a Keith Andrews strike made sure of victory.

Albion must be wondering how they failed to wrap up the points during the opening period.

They cut through the Wolves midfield at will with Jerome Thomas and debutant Liam Ridgewell finding acres of space down the left flank.

Only a series of fine saves from Wayne Hennessey kept Wolves in contention, but ultimately they were second best.

Albion were the first to settle and Hennessey denied winger Jerome Thomas at point blank range after Kevin Foley had been pulled out of position.

The Wales number one dealt with an effort on goal from Baggies debutant Liam Ridgewell and then Thomas dragged a low shot wide.

Paul Scharner just failed to make contact with a low ball across the Wolves box from Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Wolves were being over-run in midfield and Peter Odemwingie's fierce drive was beat out by Hennessey after Steven Reid supplied the telling pass.

Hennessey produced his second top class save of the half to turn over a deflected drive from Scharner after a mistake by Bassong.

Albion were queueing up to have attempts on goal and a Ridgewell effort was blocked.

It came as no surprise when Odemwingie broke the deadlock after 35 minutes.

He was allowed to cut in from the right unopposed and his fierce shot took a deflection off Edwards and deceived Hennessey for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Wolves were at sixes and sevens and seemingly powerless to stop Albion's grip on the game.

But in first half injury-time Fletcher equalised with a typically opportunist finish.

He combined with Ebanks-Blake before beating the dive of Ben Foster with his shot on the turn.

Hodgson made a half-time switch with former Wolves midfielder Andrews replacing Scharner.

Wolves began the second half on the offensive and Gareth McAuley did well to cut out a low Doyle centre with Fletcher waiting to pounce.

The home side were playing at a higher tempo and Fletcher's 20 yard drive was deflected just wide with Foster scrambling across his line.

Odemwingie teed up Thomas 15 yards out but O'Hara's challenge did enough to put him off and he shot high and wide.

The Baggies still looked threatening and Hennessey turned aside a Fortune drive.

But from Morrison's corner, Albion regained the lead through Olsson via an error by Hennessey.

McAuley's initial header clipped the outside of a post and then Johnson hoisted his clearance high into the air inside the penalty box.

Olsson was first to react to the loose ball but Hennessey should have held his shot which slipped from his grasp and over the line.

Johnson came close to equalising when his header was cleared off the line by Mulumbu via the underside of the bar.

Odemwingie could have wrapped up the points when he broke into the West Brom box but his shot was cleared off the line by Foley.

But he was not to be denied and after 77 minutes struck for the second time.

Ridgewell turned a Morrison header back across the box, Olsson back heeled the ball goal-wards and Odemwingie applied the vital touch.

Andrews made it 4-1 with a deflected low drive after 85 minutes and Odemwingie completed his hat-trick from a Morrison cross three minutes later.