Wolves Vs Aston Villa: Joao Gomes and Rodrigo Gomes seal 2-0 home win
The bottom club stunned third-placed Aston Villa in a wet West Midlands derby at Molineux, a 2-0 victory that matters because it lifted Wolves off the Premier League's all-time low points mark and handed home supporters rare joy. The match between wolves vs aston villa was decided by a Joao Gomes finish and a Rodrigo Gomes breakaway goal deep into stoppage time.
Goals and decisive moments at Molineux
Wolves opened the scoring when Adam Armstrong's lay-off created space for Joao Gomes to fire home after a slick attacking move. Deep into stoppage-time the game was sealed as substitute Rodrigo Gomes beat Emi Martinez on the break for the second goal. The match was played in wet conditions in Wolverhampton and the home side showed more appetite for the fight while Villa struggled to impose themselves.
First-half chances, substitutions and on-pitch incidents
Villa probed in the first half without causing too many problems: Ollie Watkins had a shot blocked, Pau Torres headed wide and Douglas Luiz volleyed at Jose Sa. Wolves' best opening saw the returning Toti Gomes miscued his shot. Unai Emery made a double change on the hour to try to ignite his team, and Villa later introduced Tammy Abraham. Chants of '1-0 to the Championship' were heard around Molineux as Villa pushed, but Wolves defended bravely to hold on and then score the late second.
Lineups, ratings and Player of the Match
Player ratings for the starting XIs and substitutes were published for both teams. Player of the Match was Joao Gomes.
| Wolves | Rating | Aston Villa | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sa | 7 | Martinez | 5 |
| Tchatchoua | 7 | Cash | 5 |
| Mosquera | 7 | Konsa | 6 |
| S Bueno | 7 | Torres | 6 |
| Toti | 7 | Digne | 5 |
| H Bueno | 7 | Onana | 6 |
| Andre | 8 | Luiz | 6 |
| J Gomes | 9 | Sancho | 6 |
| Bellegarde | 7 | Buendia | 5 |
| Mane | 7 | Rogers | 6 |
| Armstrong | 8 | Watkins | 5 |
| Wolves subs: Arokodare, A Gomes (n/a), R Gomes (n/a). Villa subs: Bailey, Barkley, Maatsen, Abraham, Alysson (n/a). | |||
Rob Edwards’ reaction after the win
Wolves boss Rob Edwards called it "a special moment in a really difficult season, " saying it was "nice to be able to show some emotion and build that connection that we're desperate to do. " He added that the moment "will live with me forever. " On his celebrations he said he "lost myself for a while, " adding that his daughters were probably wondering what he was doing and that he had pulled his calf and put his foot through a board. He said if you cannot enjoy moments like that in a big game against a brilliant team, then you should not be in the game.
Fan reactions and wider consequences
Fans responded strongly when asked for their thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Wolves and Aston Villa. Ivan called it a "fantastic result, well deserved, " adding "nobody wants to be known as the worst team ever to play in the Premier League. " George praised the all-round performance, saying Wolves hassled every Villa player and that Jose Sa was in good form. Dan described it as a "solid display" with every player running to the last minute, and Chris said Wolves have gained belief and urged "Take that into the Championship and we'll be back. "
Critical Villa fans included Alan, who said Villa were too poor and called Ollie Watkins "a passenger, " added that Emi Buendia is short of confidence and Morgan Rogers is trying too hard to compensate for a loss of creativity, and warned the top six is doubtful. Ian warned the season is falling apart if Villa cannot beat the bottom club. Prit accused Unai Emery of picking the wrong team, saying Wolves wanted it more, that Villa were missing key players and risk missing out on Champions League football next season. Tony said early excitement was gone, with "very little chance of Champions League and not much hope for Europa League glory, " and that players and management have a lot to answer for.
Standings implications and match presentation notes
The win means the bottom club overhauls Derby's all-time Premier League low points haul, ending lingering fears of that particular ignominy and bringing relief to home supporters at the expense of their neighbours. The result inflicts a major blow on Villa, whose form has dipped ahead of a big clash with Chelsea on Wednesday; Manchester United could be ahead of them by then as Villa's grip on a top-four finish has loosened. The match page included a note asking users to use Chrome for a more accessible video player and prompted viewers to watch on an app.
