Aston Villa’s dreams of qualifying for Europe took a severe dent as Wolves made it five unbeaten against their West Midlands rivals with another win at Molineux. Just like last year the home side won by a single-goal margin and it came via an unlikely source, Toti, who powered home his header from a 10th-minute Ruben Neves corner. Neves’ corner was just too high for Tyrone Mings and there was Toti to steam in and send his header in off the underside of the crossbar. Villa responded well, though, with Emi Buendia making Jose Sa pull off a worldie of a save after striking his half-volley on the bounce with the ball destined for the far corner. Buendia soon turned creator as he showed great feet to
fashion Ollie Watkins’ first chance as the striker sent his overhead kick a few yards wide at the back post. Watkins, though, should have scored moments later when Jacob Ramsey turned provider. Watkins got in between Max Kilman and Craig Dawson before sending his header straight at Sa from 10 yards out. Wolves' Toti wheels away in celebration after scoring a header against Villa (Image: 2023 Getty Images) Prior to half-time, Wolves fashioned their best chance to extend their lead when Diego Costa and Matheus Cunha combined well before the latter fired over Emi Martinez’s crossbar from just inside the 18-yard box. After the break, Emery hooked off the disappointing Traore with the fit-again Leon Bailey his replacement after his four-game absence with a hamstring injury. Villa did push for an equaliser with Buendia seeing an effort blocked by Kilman before Ashley Young caressed his shot just inches wide of Sa’s far post after a cleverly-worked corner. On came Diego Carlos for his long awaited return after his Achilles injury way back in August, with the Brazilian replacing Young with 25 minutes remaining. Villa, though, struggled to create much with Watkins perhaps having the best of the chances as his weak header was easily gobbled up by Sa. But 1-0 it finished to the home side with Villa losing back-to-back games under Emery for the first time since February, while the defeat made it 10 games this season where Villa have failed to win when behind at the break. Here’s how we rated the players on another disappointing afternoon at Molineux… Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0 player ratings Starting formation: 4-4-2 Emiliano Martinez: Stranded as Toti’s bullet header rocketed past him. Always remained calm in possession whenever the ball came back to him while, after the restart, he saved well with his feet to deny Diego Costa. 6 Wolves' Diego Costa and Villa's Emiliano Martinez (Image: 2023 Getty Images) Ashley Young: More than held his own up against the pacy Pedro Neto, while Young almost scored the equaliser as he sent his shot just wide of Sa’s far post. Replaced by Diego Costa with 25 minutes to go. Did OK given Traore’s struggles ahead of him. 6 Ezri Konsa: Ice-cool amidst the fiery tempo and atmosphere here at Molineux. Konsa didn’t really put a foot wrong and stayed disciplined up against Wolves’ two-man front line. Shifted to right-back as Diego Carlos came on. Won his fair share of headers. 6 Tyrone Mings: Neves’ corner was just that too high for Mings as Toti powered home the opener. Booked for a tussle with Costa, while Wolves did a good
Job at pressing him to stop Villa from regaining possession. Mings should have scored, though, as he side-footed over from six yards out after Douglas’ dinked free-kick. 5 Alex Moreno: Struggled with Wolves quick to close down Villa’s attacking outlet on this left side. Moreno had his card marked here with his usual threat nullified in what was clearly part of Lopetegui’s game plan. Couldn’t get going. 5 Bertrand Traore: A surprise starter as Emery replaced Dendoncker. Traore’s first start since rejoining couldn’t have gone much worse. Goalscorer Toti had his number time and time again, while Traore’s half was summed up as he ballooned a simple pass out of play. It was always a huge ask to come to a place like Molineux given his lack of starts in the
Premier League. 4 Douglas Luiz: Grew really frustrated given the lack of options for a pass ahead of him. Douglas lost his temper at Buendia after his teammate switched off. The midfielder was decent value, though, as he kept scanning the pitch to keep possession. He chipped in a lovely free-kick for Mings who should have scored. One of Villa’s better players but that wasn’t saying much. 6 Douglas Luiz controls the ball under pressure from Ruben Neves (Image: Shutterstock) John McGinn: Put out a lot of fires - and he had to given Villa’s lack of ball retention. It was a typical McGinn game in the sense Villa were on the back foot and they relied on players to grit their teeth and dig in in an attempt to find a way back. Raced back time and time again to win possession. A real nuisance for Wolves’ players today but, sadly, it wasn’t enough. 6* Jacob Ramsey: Produced a couple of trademark runs to tee-up Watkins while he had a couple of efforts well blocked after working some space onto his left foot. There were positive signs but, like most, lacked that little bit of quality needed to get past a resolute home defence. 6 Ollie Watkins: Missed his best chance as his unmarked header was sent straight at Sa in the first half. Watkins was well marshalled by Dawson and Kilman here as he now makes it four games without a goal. Quiet. 5 Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins (Image: Shutterstock) Emiliano Buendia: Popped up with some nice moments and showcased his usual quick feet to get out of trouble. Buendia made a good chance for Watkins and had a couple of efforts blocked. Not his day today, though. Struggled to make an impact as the game went on. It was a bright enough first half, though. 6 Substitutes Leon Bailey on for Traore, 46 minutes: Lacked any real quality. 5 Diego Carlos on for Young, 65 minutes: Won headers and put in a decent cross for Watkins who couldn’t convert his header. 6 Jhon Duran on for Buendia, 81 minutes Lucas Digne on for Moreno, 85 minutes Boubacar Kamara on for Douglas Luiz, 85 minutes Subs not used: Robin Olsen, Calum Chambers, Philippe Coutinho, Leander Dendoncker. Opposition Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-2): Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti; Nunes (Moutinho, 90+1), Neves, Lemina, Neto (A Traore, 84); Costa (Collins, 84), Cunha (Hwang, 67). Subs not used: Bentley, Ait-Nouri, Podence, Sarabia, Gomes. Goals Wolverhampton Wanderers: Toti (10) Aston Villa: Referee: Stuart Attwell Next up for Aston Villa:
Tottenham (h) on Saturday, May 13; kick-off 3pm