Wolves 1 West Brom 5 - Albion analysis

The Albion roar of victory echoed through the ages.

Baggies fans arrived at Molineux hoping for a memorable afternoon. What they got was a once-in-a-generation thrill ride.

Hat-trick hero Peter Odemwingie led the way and his Albion team-mates fell stylishly into line to produce the kind of dream derby day that most of the 2,300 travelling supporters will only have seen before in their grandparents' scrapbook.

As goals rained in for the Baggies and abuse rained down on Mick McCarthy, derby records tumbled and Odemwingie penned his own chapter in Hawthorns history. It was the Baggies' biggest victory at Molineux for 50 years and their most emphatic win ever in the Premier League.

Odemwingie was the club's first treble-scorer since Ronnie Allen in the 1954 Charity Shield. And statistics aside, the win provided the most enjoyable day that many of the visiting supporters will ever have had following their team.

It was akin to Michael Owen's finest hour for England against Germany in Munich – a 5-1 success that had away fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief. And the army of Albion loyalists could revel in the knowledge that the four-goal margin did not flatter their side.

It was the least they deserved on an afternoon when they blew away their fiercest rivals to create memories that will last for decades. Dozens of Baggies fans walked from The Hawthorns to Molineux yesterday. Had they known the treat they had in store, thousands would gladly have crawled the 10.5 miles over broken glass.

Those who were lucky enough to be at Molineux will be telling tales of the day for years. Odemwingie led the way with an unlikely hat-trick that fans must hope will bring his stuttering season to life.

But far from being the sole architect of a stunning triumph, the marksman was merely the standard-bearer for a ruthless collective demolition of Wolves that left fans struggling to comprehend what was unfolding. Their team were so dominant that, against other opponents they might even have mustered a little sympathy for the vanquished.

Against Wolves, however, there was no such compassion and the more the home fans squirmed, the more the visitors enjoyed it. Only during half-time were they subdued after Steven Fletcher's equaliser on the stroke of the interval gave the home side 15 minutes of parity that were barely believable, such was Roy Hodgson's side's dominance of the opening half.

With James Morrison pulling the strings from midfield and Marc-Antoine Fortune a hugely effective focal point, the Baggies had picked Wolves apart and led when Odemwingie cut in-field on 23 minutes and unleashed a shot that ricocheted off Dave Edwards and deceived Wayne Hennessey.

Only two fine saves from Hennessey had denied the Baggies the clear daylight their display deserved and Fletcher's crisp turn and finish after Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's smart pass came like a bolt from the blue.

Yet after weathering the briefest spell of Wolves pressure early in the second half, Albion took total charge. Jonas Olsson blasted home from a corner with the help of a Hennessey fumble to restore the lead before a momentary rally by McCarthy's men and two headers provided Albion with a couple of scares. First from Fletcher when

Ben Foster pulled off a flying save and then when a combination of Youssouf Mulumbu, Liam Ridgewell and the bar came to their rescue from Johnson's effort. But with 13 minutes remaining Olsson's inspired backheel from another corner set up Odemwingie to sweep home his second goal and send Wolves supporters heading for the exits.

Half-time substitute Keith Andrews bit the hand that once fed him with a debut goal from Odemwingie's run and cross before the Nigeria international completed his own memorable day, capping the best move of the match to blast home a Morrison cross and seal the matchball.

His joy was evident as celebrated in front of the Steve Bull Stand, which by then was a sea of boinging blue and white.