West Brom’s late win over local rivals  Birmingham avoids the crowd violence that marred clash with Wolves… though Blues midfielder Juninho Bacuna reports that he suffered racial abuse during the game

The first things to catch the eye were the police vehicles. Or rather, the lack of them. Whereas there had been about 40 in the Sandwell Academy car park three hours prior to last weekend’s meeting between West Bromwich Albion and Wolves, this time there were just two.

Only five miles separate The Hawthorns from St Andrew’s yet traditionally, Albion’s relationship with Birmingham has nothing of the animosity that characterises Albion’s meetings with Wolves or Aston Villa. 

Fans from both clubs mingled on the roads and beside the hot dog vans around the ground and the Birmingham bus arrived without incident. Blues boss Tony Mowbray is one of Albion’s most-loved managers of the modern era and was given a good reception.

None of this was enough to dissipate the tension completely. Last week, appalling scenes of violence overshadowed the Black Country derby, which was suspended for 39 minutes as police and stewards sought to restore order, and children were placed in danger. 

Even though there is no rivalry to speak of between these clubs, there were fears of copycat behaviour among the 2,000 Blues fans.

Weimann struck with five minutes left to play for the Championship play-off hopefuls

There wasn’t the same crowd violence that plagued West Brom’s recent game against Wolves

Juninho Bacuna allegedly suffered racial abuse during the game which he reported to the referee

There was not the same police presence but how could there be? There were about 400 officers on duty last weekend and they do not come cheap. Indeed, Mail Sport understands that much of the estimated £70,000 television revenue Albion earned from the Wolves tie was spent on policing.

‘I had no worries about coming back,’ said Gareth, an Albion season-ticket holder. ‘But I decided not to bring my daughter Eve, who’s 11, today. She wasn’t at the Wolves game and while this a different kettle of fish, it didn’t feel worth the risk.’

‘You don’t want kids anywhere near that kind of nonsense,’ agrees Alice, who sits in the Halford Lane Stand near where the trouble flared. ‘We just hope it’s a one-off.’

Since the clown car ride that was Wayne Rooney’s short reign at Birmingham, Mowbray has restored calm and common sense. 

Blues had won one and drawn one in the league since Mowbray landed a month ago though but are still at the wrong end of the Championship.

By contrast, Albion are pushing for a promotion that the club need desperately to help their worrying financial position. 

The disastrous ownership of Guochuan Lai long since reached its natural conclusion but as yet there is no successor, despite the positive noises that come from the club and the three interested parties circling.

Coach Carlos Corberan has done a fine job to block out the background chaos and has built an impressive home record, though the team sometimes deliver stodgy performances under the Spaniard. Their football lacked the purpose of the first-half display against Wolves as Birmingham had little trouble keeping Albion at arm’s length.

Blues rarely threatened either and it made for a dull opening 45 minutes. Alex Mowatt should have given Albion the lead at the start of the second half but somehow headed wide from six yards after the promising Tom Fellows had picked him out. Moments later Brandon Thomas-Asante hammered an angled volley a fraction high.

Birmingham came much closer with 20 minutes remaining as Kevin Long sneaked into space at the near post and turned Andre Dozzell’s corner towards the far post, only to see it kiss the inside of it and bounce into the hands of Alex Palmer.

Carlos Coberan’s side are fifth in the Championship – four points clear of dropping out of the play-offs

Wolves’ recent trip to the Hawthorns in the FA Cup was marred by crowd trouble

That was painful for Blues – but nothing compared with what followed. With five minutes remaining, Darnell Furlong drilled low across the box and there was substitute Andi Weimann to meet it with a smart near post volley. To add insult to injury, Weimann was at Aston Villa from 2009-15. It is bad enough conceding a late goal, but a late goal to a former Villa man is almost too much to bear.

The previous goal at this ground was scored by Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, and it sparked some of the most depressing events seen here in modern times. Happily for everyone here, Weimann’s strike did not bring about a repeat.

There was one incident which later came to light when West Brom confirmed Birmingham player Juninho Bacuna had reported an incident of racism to referee David Webb in the second half. West Midlands Police are investigating.

West Brom in their statement said: ‘Albion will offer its full support to West Midlands Police in their criminal investigation of this matter. The club will also remain in contact with Birmingham City to ensure Juninho Bacuna receives the support he requires at this time.

‘The club takes a strong stance against all forms of discrimination and will do all it can to ensure anyone found guilty of racism faces the toughest available legal punishment, in addition to a lifetime ban from The Hawthorns.

‘Albion will continue to work with the Football Association, the EFL and all relevant authorities to rid the game of racism. ‘

A spokesman for West Midlands Police added: ‘We’re investigating after a Birmingham City player was racially abused during the game at The Hawthorns today.

‘We’ll be looking at CCTV and working with both clubs to identify who was responsible, and offer support to the player.

‘We do not tolerate racist abuse in any form either in football or society in general, and we will seek to prosecute anyone who commits hate crime.’