At the end of the season, how costly might this untimely slip prove for Aston Villa? Judging by the way Unai Emery fumed on the touchline, this defeat by their near neighbours Wolves will hurt for a while yet and, significantly, it could have major implications on their hopes of returning to the Champions League.
Wolves understandably savoured every moment of only their second Premier League win of the season, every outfield player joining the celebrations as João Gomes fired in his first goal in a year just after the hour, and then again joyously when Rodrigo Gomes made it 2-0 in the 98th minute. The win meant Wolves at least can say they have beaten Derby’s record Premier League low points tally of 11 from 2007-08.
But Emery’s wait to taste victory at Molineux goes on, the Spaniard winless in all five visits here as a manager. For him and for Villa, Wednesday’s date with Chelsea at Villa Park just got a little bit meatier.
Until João Gomes started and superbly finished that Wolves move, the excitement in the stands was largely contained to the half-time break, a stimulating small-sided kids’ game between these local rivals. For the record, Wolves won that one, too, the goalscorer celebrating by sitting on the turf and mimicking a meditating Erling Haaland. It triggered a wave of positivity from the hardy souls in the stands and it was almost omnipresent when the ball crashed into Emiliano Martínez’s net in front of the South Bank.
It was never going to be an evening for the purists and driving rain did little to enhance this soggy Midlands derby as a spectacle. It was a contest bogged down by misplaced passes, clunky touches and the ball slowing unpredictably on a saturated surface. Ezri Konsa can vouch for that, the Villa centre-back nudging the ball back to his goalkeeper Emi Martínez with his big toe, just as Adam Armstrong sought to prey on Douglas Luiz’s loose pass. It was a night for the poncho-clad Wolves supporters in the uncovered Graham Hughes stand in a corner of this stadium. Hugo Bueno looked battle-hardened, the reverse of the Wolves full-back’s old gold shirt caked in mud.
The actual football, and particularly anything resembling Premier League quality, was limited. Ollie Watkins passed up Villa’s first and best first-half opening, electing to take Morgan Rogers’s clever pass on his right foot rather than his left, Watkins’s hesitancy inadvertently offering Yerson Mosquera time to intervene. From the subsequent corner the Villa defender Pau Torres glanced a header wide, the ball bobbling out for another corner via a Wolves shirt. Douglas Luiz sent a volley on target from a Matty Cash cross but it was too close to the Wolves goalkeeper José Sá.
On the sidelines Emery grew increasingly agitated. He exploded as Jadon Sancho declined to take a shot first time after the ball dropped kindly at the back post and there was also a restlessness within the home support. Rob Edwards, the Wolves head coach, gestured for calm as the locals aired their frustration at Jackson Tchatchoua looking inside for the perceived easy pass. Wolves struggled to hold on to the ball and when they did have it they surrendered possession cheaply, João Gomes among those guilty. Sá, wearing the captain’s armband, shanked a goal-kick straight out of play to the disbelief of those in the stands.
The second half took on a similar theme and, approaching the hour, Emery had seen enough and turned to his bench, introducing Leon Bailey and Ross Barkley. Emery’s patient wait for Villa to find a killer moment that eluded them could only last so long. At the other end Cash had to throw himself at an inviting Tchatchoua cross after the Wolves wing-back zipped past Lucas Digne.
Tchatchoua has been derided for much of the season, a symbol of the club’s struggles, but it was another of his crosses that prompted Wolves’s unlikely opener. Armstrong, whether by luck or design, laid the ball off perfectly for João Gomes, who sent a first-time shot in off the underside of the crossbar. It was just the tonic the Wolves support needed and they maintained their humour. “One-nil to the Championship,” came the chant from the South Bank.
Wolves, certainly not lacking in spirit, defended admirably. Tchatchoua did well to halt Ian Maatsen, one of those thrown on by Emery as Villa chased the game. Toti Gomes halted Leon Bailey, another second-half substitute, advancing. Bueno blocked off all avenues for Cash and turned to celebrate with the home fans. Then, at the final whistle after Mosquera had cleared off his own line, Wolves could celebrate.
