Wolverhampton Wanderers claimed a potentially pivotal three points in the Premier League relegation dogfight as they upset Aston Villa 2-0 in Saturday's West Midlands derby at Molineux.
As has been the case throughout the season, Unai Emery's men were not at the races immediately after a Champions League match and deservedly fell behind when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde beat Emiliano Martinez at his near post.
Vitor Pereira's men missed two golden chances to double their lead before the break, though; Matheus Cunha firstly hesitated while one-on-one with Martinez, before Goncalo Guedes sent a low strike wide of the far post when clean through.
An agitated Emery made no fewer than four changes at half time - including taking off a seemingly injured Ollie Watkins - and that bold move almost paid dividends right away, but Donyell Malen's leveller was ruled out for a controversial offside against Morgan Rogers.
Just as Villa were starting to run out of ideas, Cunha struck the insurance goal right at the death as Wolves moved two points clear of the relegation zone, while Emery's eighth-placed side are four points adrift of the Champions League spots having played a game more than Manchester City.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
This time last weekend, Aston Villa were in possession of a powerful, clinical striker who would have relished situations such as today's. However, gone are the days of Jhon Duran saving the Lions' bacon.
One cannot question the logic of Villa accepting north of £60m for a player who seldom got into the starting lineup, but it is difficult to envisage a scenario where the Al-Nassr new boy would not have come up with one of his customary super sub stunners.
It is true that Emery's men improved after the break, and while they may point to a perceived incorrect call for Malen's disallowed goal, there is an argument to be had that Nelson Semedo would have blocked John McGinn's ball across had he not been impeded by the offside Rogers.
Ultimately, Saturday's derby will go down as another unsuccessful outing after a Champions League game - the visitors have now failed to win their last seven Premier League matches following a UCL affair - and Emery's quadruple half-time change suggests that the Spaniard got this one wrong from the first whistle.
On the other hand, Wolves' diligent defensive display was worthy of three points on its own, and Pereira's men were not left to lament those two massive misses from Cunha and Guedes in the first half, but they could very well have been punished on another day.
WOLVES VS. ASTON VILLA HIGHLIGHTS
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde goal vs. Aston Villa (12th min, Wolves 1-0 Aston Villa)
Bellegarde scores his first goal at Molineux! 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/fO3yTsQzRh
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 1, 2025
The wolf pack exploded out of the blocks at Molineux, and their reward arrives in the shape of a maiden Molineux goal for Bellegarde!
Pereira's men work the ball from left to right as Villa bodies swarm around the ball to no avail, and Pablo Sarabia plays the most intricate of through balls to Bellegarde, who gets across makeshift centre-back Boubacar Kamara.
The angle is tight, but the Wolves midfielder does not hesitate, unleashing a first-time strike and finding a gap at Emiliano Martinez's near post!
Donyell Malen goal vs. Wolves disallowed (54th min, Wolves 1-0 Aston Villa)
"This is controversial"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 1, 2025
Aston Villa's goal is ruled offside due to Morgan Rogers positioning in the build-up 👇 pic.twitter.com/gWNjZAUkpL
Death, taxes and VAR controversy. Aston Villa momentarily think that they have pegged their hosts back, as Malen finishes off a well-worked short free kick routine.
The Dutchman is certainly onside as he receives McGinn's pass, but Stockley Park deems the offside Rogers to have obstructed Semedo, and Wolves survive.
Matheus Cunha goal vs. Aston Villa (90+7 min, Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa)
Matheus Cunha seals the win for Wolves! ✅ pic.twitter.com/GTccutXg9X
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 1, 2025
Something about icing and cake.
Aston Villa want a foul - and replays show that they have a case - but Andy Madley waves play on, and Hwang Hee-chan picks out the run of Cunha.
Ezri Konsa is the only man back for a desperate Villa, and to his credit, he does enough to hold up Wolves' Brazilian marksman as the visitors get more players in their own box.
Nevertheless, Cunha produces a nice feint to work the yard for a strike and finds the far corner with absolute aplomb.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JEAN-RICNER BELLEGARDE
© Imago
In some respects, Bellegarde was perhaps lucky that Martinez did not cover his near post in glory; had the former Strasbourg midfielder would have been lambasted for not squaring had he missed the mark.
However, Bellegarde bought a ticket and won the raffle, and the 26-year-old shone all around with an 89% pass accuracy, three accurate long balls from four attempts and three tackles in the middle of the park.
WOLVES VS. ASTON VILLA MATCH STATS
Possession: Wolves 32%-68% Aston Villa
Shots: Wolves 8-10 Aston Villa
Shots on target: Wolves 5-3 Aston Villa
Corners: Wolves 5-8 Aston Villa
Fouls: Wolves 20-13 Aston Villa
BEST STATS
Matheus Cunha has scored 25 goals in the Prem for Wolves.
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) February 1, 2025
Only Raúl Jiménez has scored more. pic.twitter.com/t6P52UZkQs
Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa FT
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 1, 2025
Wolves end their four-match losing streak with a win that takes them out of the relegation zone.
Villa have now lost six of their last eight Premier League away games #WOLAVL pic.twitter.com/0I7RKyElLB
WHAT NEXT?
Progression to the fifth round of the FA Cup will be on both teams' next Sunday, where Wolves head to Blackburn Rovers for a lunchtime fourth-round clash, a few hours before Villa host Tottenham Hotspur in an evening kickoff.
The two clubs then face Premier League fixtures of vastly differing difficulty; Pereira's men have to travel to Anfield to meet rampant leaders Liverpool on February 16, one day after Emery's team host relegation-battling Ipswich Town.
Ben Knapton
