Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Matheus Cunha scored as Wolves won 2-0 against Aston Villa at Molineux to move out of the relegation zone.
Villa fell behind to Bellegarde’s goal early on and were far from their best throughout. Jhon Duran’s departure for Saudi Arabia left Unai Emery unable to change the game following star striker Ollie Watkins’ exit with a groin problem at half-time.
They could point to Donyell Malen’s disallowed goal in the second half but Villa did not to do enough to get the win that would have closed the gap on the top four to just a point. Vitor Pereira was the man smiling, his team now two points clear of the drop zone.
How Wolves won it
Wolves’ aggressive approach was evident from the outset, Bellegarde finishing powerfully beyond Emiliano Martinez after Pablo Sarabia threaded the pass through. But Pereira’s struggling side should have led by more at the interval.
Cunha wasted a one-on-one chance and Goncalo Guedes had three good looks at the Aston Villa goal without finding the net. Unai Emery’s side were sluggish, perhaps tired physically and emotionally after their Champions League endeavours.
A quadruple change at half-time, one of them forced due to a groin problem for Watkins – now Villa’s only striker after Duran’s exit – changed the character of the contest. Malen, his replacement, thought he had equalised early in the half but was denied.
It was adjudged offside as a result of Morgan Rogers impeding Nelson Semedo, although it is doubtful the Wolves captain could have prevented the goal. It was as close as Villa came until Jose Sa saved from Malen in the 90th minute of the match.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Aston Villa were denied an equaliser at Wolves by a tight VAR call
‘Lucky one for Wolves’
Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp’s verdict on the disallowed goal:
“Let’s be honest. Wolves have had a lot of bad decisions against them, and this is a lucky one for them.
“Villa fans are wondering how on earth this has not been given. Rogers gets into a position and tries to block him. Does he impede him enough?
“It’s not enough. Not for me. As a defender, Semedo is looking at the wall. If Rogers doesn’t make that run, McGinn is still in anyway. Rogers doesn’t need to do anything because Semedo is not alive.
“And Rogers doesn’t do enough anyway. Once the ball goes in, Semedo doesn’t even complain. He wasn’t impeded. Villa are really unlucky.”
Emery on Watkins and Rashford
Speaking in the press conference after the game, Emery confirmed Watkins had an injury issue. “Yes, I changed him because he was feeling a little bit of pain in his muscle. Hopefully, tomorrow, with testing, it is not important.”
Will he sign a striker now? “To sign one striker is not easy. We have some players. Usually Watkins is being consistent, playing matches, recovering strong and playing matches in a row, two or three matches. But today he got injured. Hopefully, it is small.”
Marcus Rashford is a player linked with a loan move to Villa but Emery would not be drawn on that. “Tomorrow, Monday we will see,” said the Villa boss. “We are working on different players. We will know on Monday how we have finished.”
Player of the match: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde
Bellegarde was asked to play in a deeper role with Joao Gomes suspended and Mario Lemina out of the picture. Villa might have identified that as a point of weakness but the Wolves midfielder produced a match-winning performance for his side.
He put the work in defensively and still got forward to score the goal, breaking into the space behind the Villa defence and finishing with force. Bellegarde has shown glimpses in a Wolves shirt but this is his most significant contribution for the club.
Pereira: Cunha told me he wants to stay
Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira speaking to Sky Sports:
“We played tactically a very good game. With the true spirit, the energy – everything was on the pitch today. We deserved this result.
“The second goal, if it came earlier, I think our second half would have been different.
“When we put Cunha as a striker man to man in the last line, we know he can receive a ball, create goals against one or two players. He can create a goal from nothing. It means he is a special player. For us, he’s a player that gives us a lot of things.
“I think he’s committed with us. The last conversation that we had, he said I will help the team to be in the Premier League next season. At the end of the season, we’ll see. He’s very committed with us to help the team and our team-mates and to help the club.
“It will be a long way, a tough way, but with this tactical quality and spirit. I am sure that we will be in the Premier League next season.”
