Wolves stun Aston Villa with decisive 2-0 victory
Wolves pulled off a stunning upset on Friday night, hammering their West Midlands rivals Aston Villa 2-0 at a rain-soaked Molineux, reports BritPanorama.
The Premier League’s basement club demonstrated greater hunger than their third-placed neighbours throughout the derby clash. Joao Gomes opened the scoring with a lovely finish, while his namesake Rodrigo wrapped things up late on with a breakaway goal deep into added time.
It was a challenging evening for Unai Emery’s side, who struggled to find their rhythm against a Wolves team fighting for survival at the bottom of the table. Villa had their moments before the break yet failed to convert chances, with Ollie Watkins’ effort blocked and Pau Torres nodding a header wide.
Wolves struck first with a slick attacking move that contrasted markedly with their poor campaign thus far. Adam Armstrong played a delightful ball into the path of Joao Gomes, who made no mistake with his finish. The home fans soon serenaded their opponents with chants of “1-0 to the Championship” as Villa desperately searched for an equaliser.
Emery attempted to inject new life into his side with substitutions around the hour mark, yet it was Wolves who continued to threaten. As the match progressed, the home side held firm, turning the pressure back onto Villa in the closing stages. Substitute Rodrigo Gomes raced clear in the dying moments, slotting past Emi Martinez to spark wild celebrations.
This victory allowed Wolves to surpass Derby County’s notorious all-time Premier League low points tally, providing a moment of joy for their long-suffering supporters. Post-match, Wolves manager Rob Edwards expressed pride in the team’s performance, stating, “Really proud, that’s why I came here, nights like that, to connect with the supporters like that.” He added, “I know we are in a difficult position but I love football tonight like that, it’s brilliant.”
The result leaves Villa in a precarious position, as their grip on a top-four spot has weakened significantly ahead of a crucial meeting with Chelsea, where they risk being overtaken by Manchester United. The derby served as a reminder of how quickly fortunes in football can shift, both for clubs battling relegation and those vying for European qualification.
