27 January 2024 , 16:47
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Mario Lemina said he felt like crying after Wolves fans rallied around him - and now it’s payback time.
The Gabon international wants to give the supporters a derby victory to remember after the club showed its affection for their midfielder.
Lemina, 30, was given compassionate leave following the death of his father last month and Gary O’Neil’s players held up his shirt after Max Kilman scored the opener in a 3-0 victory over Everton. Lemina has since returned to Molineux and he said the best way for him to repay that would be victory over the Baggies.
He said: “I watched the Everton game with my whole family - we were almost crying about it, feeling the support of a lot of people and I said that to them, I said: ‘I’m with them every day and that’s what they do.’
“I really appreciate it because it gave me so much strength and faith during this period. That’s why I’m happy to be back - to give my all for them.”
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Wolves haven’t tasted victory at the Hawthorns since 1996 when an Iwan Roberts’ hat-trick saw them record a 4-2 victory. But the Premier League side head into the tie as favourites, despite West Brom ’s strong form in front of their own fans. They’ve lost just one in their last eight in all competitions.
Lemina said: “I’ve been told it’s a really tough game because for Wolves, West Brom is the biggest rivalry. We need to show that we are the team that deserves to win.
“But we’re going to take it as a usual game, that’s what we have to do because we’re going the right way at the moment.
“We’re not scared. We’re going to play with the same intensity and fighting spirit, for the fans because they deserve it.”