Spanish youngster awarded by the Football League for stunning goal against local rivals WBA
Fer Lopez’s Black Country derby winner has earned the Wolves midfielder the EFL’s September Goal Hero award, giving Cesar Peixoto another positive before Wolverhampton Wanderers host Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday, 13 October after defeat at Middlesbrough. Fans of online football betting will now surely be considering him an option for goalscorer markets going forward.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have a fresh reminder of their sharp early-season form as they return to Molineux for a 7.45pm BST Championship fixture against Bolton Wanderers.
Lopez has been recognised for the decisive goal in Wolves’ 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, 20 September, when he punished Nat Phillips’ loose pass and clipped the ball over Max O’Leary after 50 minutes.
The strike gave Wolves their first home league derby win over Albion since May 2011 and carried extra weight in the first Black Country derby at Molineux with supporters for 14 years. Lopez later called the record ‘a crazy stat’ and said Wolves had done ‘half of the job’, with the return fixture at The Hawthorns scheduled for Saturday, 20 February.
Why the award matters now
The EFL’s Goal Hero award is designed to recognise goals with a wider story, rather than simply the cleanest finish. Lopez’s moment fitted that brief: a derby winner, a long wait ended and a celebration that connected with Wolves supporters.
It also underlined the 22-year-old’s rapid change in status. After joining from Celta Vigo in June 2025 and spending part of last season back in Spain on loan, Lopez has become one of Peixoto’s key attacking midfielders in the Championship.
Wolves said in September that he had started the campaign with three goals and two assists in five appearances, which also earned him the club’s August Player of the Month award. Lopez credited Peixoto’s possession-based style, saying Wolves are playing more of the football that suits him.
Bolton test follows Riverside defeat
The immediate question for supporters is whether Lopez is ready to play a bigger part against Bolton. Peixoto confirmed both Lopez and Jordan James returned from international duty with minor issues but came through substitute appearances in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough without further problems.
Wolves begin Tuesday fifth in the Championship, on 14 points from eight matches, after Will Lankshear’s header at the Riverside inflicted only their second league defeat of the season. They remain unbeaten at Molineux, where Lopez’s derby goal sealed their most recent home victory.
Raul Jimenez remains unavailable, while Boubacar Traore and Bertrand Traore are also sidelined. Rodrigo Gomes requires assessment after feeling discomfort in his foot at Middlesbrough.
Bolton arrive 17th after a 2-1 home defeat by Stoke City, although they recently won 4-3 at Norwich City. For Wolves, the task is clear: turn Lopez’s individual recognition into a team response before Friday’s trip to Burnley at 8pm BST.