Derby win gave Wolves the sweetest feeling - Lopez

Wolves matchwinner Fer Lopez says Sunday's 1-0 Black Country derby win over West Bromwich Albion gave them a "great feeling".

In the first league meeting between the two former Football League founder members in more than five years, Lopez admitted that Wolves should have won by a much bigger margin with a performance that one media man called "a 1-0 battering".

Only Albion keeper Max O'Leary's string of fine saves kept the score down. But Lopez told BBC Radio WM: "We showed we were the better team.

"We knew the importance of the game. And it is a great feeling to get the only goal."

He also admitted that Jose Sa keeping a clean sheet was also highly important.

"We're a little bit more pragmatic now," he added. "Before, we were scoring a lot of goals but conceding. It's about trying to find the right balance."

After scoring five minutes into the second half to go back in front of the injured Raul Jimenez as Wolves' top Championship scorer this season, the Spain Under-21 international was actually substituted in the 73rd minute.

Lopez, who spent last season out on loan at Celta Vigo, had made little impression before his goal and Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto, admitted that he wanted more.

"He can do better," Peixoto told BBC Radio WM. "He played well, but I want more from him and all the players.

"At half-time, I told the team it was not enough. I told them not to drop the intensity because we deserved to score. They followed the plan to perfection."

It is an accusation levelled against some foreign managers and players that they do not get the importance of winning their team's chief local derby.

But Peixoto's Wolves served up some delightful football and did themselves proud - but he insisted that it was all largely for the benefit of the fans.

"We knew how important this game was to our supporters and for ourselves," he said.

"I liked that a lot. And we won it for the supporters. The environment in the stadium was amazing. It left me happy.

"The players deserved this win. They showed big soul, big organisation and big quality. They worked so hard and did a great job. We created a lot of chances, but their goalkeeper made some great saves and we somehow don't score.

"We didn't let them play as they wanted to. We played with courage and character and pressed high and fought right to the end to make sure we got what we deserved.

"It's an important three points. But it is only three points. Most importantly, these players showed they deserve the respect and support that the fans can give them."