SUPER Kevin Phillips and deadly Diomansy Kamara again proved Wolves' nemesis as the brave Baggies came from behind to steal a play-off semi-final first-leg advantage.
Phillips took his tally to five goals in two games and 21 for the season with strikes in the 25th and 54th minutes, sandwiching Jody Craddock's 44th-minute leveller and Seyi Olofinjana's 52nd-minute tap-in.
And Senegal pace ace Kamara returned from suspension with devastating effect by firing the winner 17 minutes from time to edge this five-goal thriller the visitors' way.
The former Portsmouth ace has now scored in three of Albion's four meetings with Wanderers this term.
Tony Mowbray's men proved their mettle in the most hostile of atmospheres at Molineux to get their noses in front heading into Wednesday's second leg at The Hawthorns.
And no-one epitomised that never-say-die attitude more than Dean Kiely, who pulled off a quartet of magnificent saves to deny the lively Michael Kightly three times and Jay Bothroyd once.
Mowbray made one change from the 7-0 romp against Barnsley as Kamara was recalled to partner Phillips in attack, with Nathan Ellington dropping to the bench.
Wolves counterpart Mick McCarthy was forced to hand youngster Wayne Hennessey his debut between the sticks after losing Championship Golden Gloves winner Matt Murray to a shoulder injury.
But it was 36-year-old shot-stopper Kiely who used all his experience to keep Wanderers at bay in the sixth minute.
The former Charlton keeper raced off his line to deny Kightly with a superb one-handed save after the pacy winger had been threaded clean through by Andy Keogh.
The hosts threatened again in the 12th minute when Olofinjana powered in on Michael McIndoe's right-wing corner, only to see his back-post header nodded off the line by Robert Koren.
Three minutes later, Wolves centre-half Neil Collins went within inches of scoring when he headed McIndoe's free-kick from the right inches past the far post.
Albion earned some respite from the Wolves pressure thanks to Jason Koumas' delightful piece of skill on the halfway line.
The Welsh wizard left three Wanderers players in his wake but his finish failed to match his approach work, shooting weakly at Hennessey from just outside the box.
The Baggies began exerting some pressure of their own but Wolves almost pounced again in the 19th minute.
Kightly got on the end of Bothroyd's long ball, only to be denied by a well-timed Chris Perry challenge.
At the other end, the influential Phillips put Richard Chaplow in on goal.
But a last-ditch challenge by Jackie McNamara blocked the former Burnley midfielder's shot on the edge of the box.
Albion found themselves temporarily down to ten men in the 25th minute when Chaplow limped off for treatment.
Yet that did not stop Phillips opening the scoring.
After Wolves defender Gary Breen had scuffed his attempted clearance from Koren's right-wing cross straight to the ex-England man, Phillips took one touch before smashing an unstoppable 20-yard effort into the top right-hand corner of the net.
The goal even eclipsed the in-form striker's belter against Barnsley seven days ago.
Seconds later, the Baggies were back to full strength when Darren Carter, returning from a three-match ban, replaced Chaplow.
Hennessey was fortunate to get away with dropping a Koumas cross in the 31st minute. Breen saved his team-mate's bacon by clearing for a corner before Phillips could pounce.
However, Wolves could have levelled a minute later when Olofinjana again slotted Kightly in on goal.
In a carbon copy of their earlier clash, Kiely again denied the Wolves winger with a stunning reflex save.
The non-stop action swung immediately to the other end when the Baggies had strong 35th-minute penalty appeals turned down after Wolves skipper Craddock appeared to handle Phillips' shot.
Bothroyd's presence wreaked havoc in the Baggies box again two minutes later when the ex-Charlton striker leapt highest to head McIndoe's right-wing centre just over from 12 yards.
The same player then attempted the spectacular from Keogh's chip - but missed the target.
Kightly left Paul McShane on his backside moments later before teeing up Keogh, who blazed horribly over from the edge of the box.
But McCarthy's men finally made their pressure pay in the 44th minute.
The lively Keogh kept the ball in play near the left-hand byline and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Craddock to head into the far corner of the net.
But the Baggies should have still gone into the break ahead.
Stand-in skipper Paul Robinson wasted a glorious chance by sending a free header from Koumas' short corner wide of the right-hand upright in the second minute of stoppage time.
Albion came flying out of the blocks in the second half and a neat one-two between Kamara and Phillips put the Senegal star in on goal.
But Kamara wastefully screwed his left-foot shot into the side-netting.
And Wolves took full advantage by taking a 52nd-minute lead.
Kiely did well to beat out Bothroyd's thunderbolt of a free-kick.
But the ball fell to McIndoe on the left who delivered for Collins to head down into the danger-zone.
In a goalmouth melee, Craddock got a vital touch and Olofinjana bundled the ball home despite McShane's brave efforts to stop him on the line.
But the hosts' lead lasted only two minutes.
Phillips kept up his stunning scoring record at Molineux by ghosting in at the far post to head home Carter's left-wing flag-kick.
The furious-paced action kept coming when Sodje blocked Kightly's goalbound shot on the hour mark.
The rebound almost fell to Olofinjana, who would have had the simplest of tap-ins had it not been for Perry's vital touch which deflected the ball into Kiely's arms.
But Albion were a much more resolute outfit after the break.
And this topsy-turvy encounter swung in their favour again in the 73rd minute.
Robinson's superb throughball sent Kamara away down the left and he powered in on goal before beating Hennessy all ends up with a deadly left-foot finish.
Bothroyd almost restored parity moments later but man-of-the-match Kiely produced a flying one-handed save low down to his right to turn his 25-yard free-kick around the post.
Yet it could have been 4-2 in the 86th minute when substitute Ellington directed a downward header inches wide from Carter's centre.
In an incredible finish, Kiely had to be at his very best again when he dived full stretch to his left to parry Kightly's raking 20-yard effort.
That proved the final goalmouth incident of an unbelievable Black Country derby, with everything still to play for in three days' time.
WOLVES (4-4-2): Hennessey; Collins, Breen, Craddock, McNamara (Little 79); Kightly, Olofinjana, Potter, McIndoe; Bothroyd (Ward 79), Keogh. Subs not used: Oakes (gk), Davies, Gleeson.
ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; McShane, Sodje, Perry, Robinson; Koren (Gera 64), Greening, Chaplow (Carter 26), Koumas; Phillips (Ellington 69), Kamara. Subs not used: Daniels (gk), Albrechtsen.
GOALS: WOLVES - Craddock (44), Olofinjana (52). ALBION - Phillips (25 & 54), Kamara (73).
BOOKINGS: ALBION - Sodje (foul 42), McShane (dissent 64).
REFEREE: S Tanner (Somerset).
ATTENDANCE: 27,750.
ALBION STARMAN: Dean Kiely.
(PICS BY LAURIE RAMPLING)
