Zoltan Gera's clinical finish gave West Brom the bragging rights in a thrilling Black Country derby win over Wolves which saw them regain top spot in the Championship.

Gera had seen a header smack against the woodwork in a breathless opening 45 minutes at Molineux but made no mistake in the 59th minute to settle a fabulous match.

Albion are now two points clear of Hull in the ever-changing race for promotion to the Barclays Premier League, while Mick McCarthy's Wolves - who matched their opponents for most of the game - are not yet out of the play-off picture.

Tony Mowbray's side started well and they went close to taking the lead in the fourth minute.

Gera swung in a perfect cross from deep on the right-hand side and Ishmael Miller leapt clear of the attention of Neill Collins to plant a header over Wayne Hennessey but onto the roof of the net.

A clever turn and pass from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake then nearly played Seyi George Olofinjana in at the other end before Miller again went close.

Gera cut a low ball back into the striker's feet and he effortlessly rolled Wolves skipper Jody Craddock to drill a low shot which Hennessey clung on to.

It was a frenetic opening and Ebanks-Blake should have opened the scoring in the 10th minute.

George Elokobi's ball through deflected off Andy Keogh's heel to play Matty Jarvis clear down the left.

The winger whipped in a great first-time cross which cut out Neil Clement and landed right on Ebanks-Blake's head but he failed to control the finish and saw it sail over the bar from just seven yards out.

Albion came even closer to opening the scoring in their next attack when Jonathan Greening's free-kick from the right was met by Gera at the near post with a header which thumped away off the angle of post and bar.

Miller was replaced at the interval by Roman Bednar but it was Wolves' Michael Gray who had the first chance of the second half.

Jarvis sent in a deep ball from the left which eluded everyone in the area and Gray slid in at the far post to shin an effort into the side-netting.

Albion's top scorer Kevin Phillips had had a relatively quiet evening but then came within inches of opening the scoring after a superb move in the 57th minute.

Greening found Bednar, who laid the ball off first time to Robert Koren.

Koren slid the ball into Phillips' path wide on the right of the area and the striker sent a first-time shot from 15 yards which arrowed through Collins' legs and struck the inside of the far post.

But Albion were not to be denied and took the lead seconds later through Gera.

A quick ball forward caught the Wolves defence square and after Phillips had skipped over the challenge of Collins, he was able to slide a ball across the six-yard box to Gera who side-footed home unmarked.

James Morrison saw a 25-yard effort sail just wide after another flowing counter attack as Albion began to play the kind of football which has long seen them heralded as the best in the division.

Koren and Greening were at last able to put the brakes on and control possession as both sets of players began to tire.

An eye-catching passing move saw Koren drill in a shot which was deflected behind for a corner as McCarthy sent on strikers Freddy Eastwood and Kevin Kyle in a bid to snatch a draw.

Eastwood did produce one long-range drive which was well held by Dean Kiely but it was left to Olofinjana to spurn the home side's best chance when he flicked a header wide in the dying seconds.

Teams

Wolverhampton Hennessey, Foley (Kyle 81), Collins, Craddock,Elokobi, Jarvis, Olofinjana, Gibson, Gray (Eastwood 74), Keogh,Ebanks-Blake.

Subs Not Used: Stack, Breen, Potter.

Booked: Elokobi.

West Brom Kiely, Hoefkens, Barnett, Clement, Robinson, Gera,Koren, Greening, Morrison (Moore 90), Miller (Bednar 46),Phillips (Pele 85).

Subs Not Used: Martis, Brunt.

Booked: Greening.

Goals: Gera 59.

Att: 27,883

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).