Phillips sets up the final exam

The former England striker headed home his sixth goal in three games, extending his incredible derby record in the process, as West Bromwich Albion beat their bitter rivals to book a Wembley final spot.

Phillips was afforded the chance with 25 minutes to go to settle this tie as both teams took on a far more responsible attitude than four days earlier at Molineux, when West Bromwich edged a game of five goals.

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Wolves' rearguard were slack in allowing Robert Koren the chance to cross from the left after Diomansy Kamara slipped a simple ball into his path. Phillips pulled away from Gary Breen and headed home from six yards out as The Hawthorns erupted.

Wolves had created a great opportunity to even it up after only eight minutes when Seyi Olofinjana spotted Andy Keogh's run off Sam Sodje, but the Irish striker failed to appreciate the time he had and snatched at his shot, which didn't even test goalkeeper Dean Kiely.

An afternoon of heavy rain contributed to Wolves striker Jay Bothroyd picking up an injury after he latched on to a clearance, outsprinted Chris Perry and cut in on goal, leaving Sodje in his wake. But the angle became too tight and Kiely blocked his shot at the near post. Bothroyd's momentum took him over the pitchside hoardings, and it was a couple of minutes before he returned, holding his shoulder.

West Bromwich Albion's most dangerous moments of the first half came through balls from the flanks. Despite his lack of height, Phillips has always been a danger in the air, and he was fractionally off target after Jason Koumas swung over the kind of centre that would give any defender sleepless nights.

Koumas was tormenting the life out of the visitors, and Darren Potter picked up the first booking of the evening for halt the Wales midfielder illegally as he burst down the left again.

It was clear that Wolves manager Mick McCarthy had earmarked playmaker Koumas for special attention, and he rarely received the ball with anything less than two goldshirted shadows tailing him.

Unlike the explosive, goalladen first meeting between the sides at Molineux, neither keeper had been tested seriously by half-time. Wolves' 20- year-old goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, making just his second appearance because of Matt Murray's absence with a shoulder injury, would have been thankful for that at least.

Incredibly, after Phillips had put them in control, the home side almost surrendered their advantage on the night in farcical fashion. Sodje failed to hear Kiely as the goalkeeper raced out to clear a through ball. The defender toe-ended the ball past his keeper and, with the ball rolling towards goal, ran back to clear his lines with inches to spare

West Brom: Kiely, McShane, Perry, Sodje, Robinson, Koren, Greening, Gera, Koumas, Kamara, Phillips. Subs: Daniels, Clement, Ellington, Carter, MacDonald.

Wolverhampton: Hennessey, Neill Collins, Breen, Craddock, McNamara, Kightly, Olofinjana, Potter, McIndoe, Bothroyd, Keogh. Subs: Oakes, Ward, Little, Mulgrew, Gleeson.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire)