Keep cool Albion urges Derby hero Kevin Donovan

Derby hero Kevin Donovan today urged Albion to keep their heads in Sunday's showdown with Wolves - after admitting he got carried away in his moment of glory.

Donovan struck the winner in the Baggies' classic 1993 Hawthorns win, then celebrated at the final whistle by gesturing the 3-2 scoreline with his fingers to Wolves defender Mark Venus.

But the former winger, who was shocked the ferocity of his first Black Country clash, has advised Albion's current side to keep calm when the sides meet in the top flight for the first time in 26 years.

The match, in September 1993, was most famous for Darren Bradley's long-range thunderbolt to put Albion 2-1 ahead after Paul Raven's header had cancelled out Steve Bull's opener for Wolves. But it was Donovan who headed the late winner to send The Hawthorns into raptures after Geoff Thomas has scrambled the visitors level.

And he admitted he was caught up in the moment when he reminded Venus of the score — a move he would not advise his latter-day successors to copy.

"There was a lot of 'needle' in that game and when I heard the final whistle I probably went a bit too far," admitted the 38-year-old.

"But there had been a bit of a running battle all through the game between our forwards and their defenders and a few things had been said on the field by both teams.

"So when the game ended I think Mark Venus carried that on and I just decided to remind him what the score was. But if I was advising the players now I would tell them to soak up the atmosphere but to keep their cool and focus on their jobs.

"During the game we did that really well and our manager, Keith Burkinshaw, was great at calming everyone down."

Donovan was just 21 years old and had been with the Baggies for only 11 months when he got his first taste of Black Country derby action.

And the Halifax-born wideman, who had moved to The Hawthorns for £70,000 from Huddersfield, was taken aback by the atmosphere of the occasion.

"I was a young player at the time and I wasn't from the area so I had no idea what the game would be like," he admitted. "But it only took a few seconds from the start for me to realise what it was all about.

"It is a huge game and the new players will realise that pretty quickly on Sunday."

And he has clearer memories of his own winner than of Bradley's famous strike.

He said: "Darren Bradley's goal was the most famous moment of the game but I had made a run past him expecting a pass, because that great eye for a pass is what he was always known for. The next thing I knew, the ball was flying past me and into the top corner.

"For my goal I remember it clearly. I remember the cross from Kwame Ampadu and I knew I only had to get a good connection on the header. Thankfully it went in."