Despite a much-improved performance, Wolves were narrowly edged out at Villa Park as they were unable to take their chances and were made to pay by a piece of Aston Villa magic.
Rob Edwards would have been pleased with the spirited showing by his side, but remain bottom of the Premier League table after Jorgen Strand Larsen was denied his fourth goal of the season by the offside flag and Yerson Mosquera struck the underside of the crossbar before the break.
However, it ended up being a similar story as it has been on numerous occasions so far this season, with Wolves conceding the vital goal in the second half. This time, Boubacar Kamara produced a stunning strike just after the hour mark as he launched a rocket into the top right corner of Sam Johnstone’s net, from outside the Old Gold penalty area, securing the win for the hosts.
Wolves produced one of their most competitive first half displays at the season at Villa Park, where if the ball would have gone their way in attack, Edwards’ side could have taken a three-goal lead into the break.
However, the Old Gold had to overcome an intense Villa side during the opening 15 minutes of the match. Lucas Digne’s cross was headed onto the Wolves crossbar by Pau Torres after he got to the ball ahead of David Moller Wolfe, and although his looping effort beat Johnstone, it could not beat the woodwork.
Wolves grew into the game as they went in search of a first Premier League win of the season, and just after the quarter-hour mark, Strand Larsen thought he had done enough to open the scoring.
A lovely Wolves move saw Jackson Tchatchoua played into space down the right and the Cameroonian was able to pick out the Norwegian in the centre of the box, who made no mistake with the finish as he turned the ball into the top corner.
However, the assistant referee’s flag was lifted, and after VAR review it was adjudged Jhon Arias was in an offside position as he got into an offside position between the ball and Emi Martinez in the Villa goal and was deemed to be interfering with play.
Wolves were frustrating Villa with an organised defensive display, with the hosts being held to shots from distance, but Johnstone was equal to several attempts from Youri Tielemans.
The visitors were patient and frustrated the Villa supporters as they looked to take their time on the ball and find the right time to break down the host’s defence. Wolfe’s balls into the box were dealt with by the defence, however.
That patient build-up almost resulted in the opener, when Tchatchoua was once again played down the right and his cross into the danger zone was turned on target by Strand Larsen, but Martinez was there to push it behind.
Form the resulting corner, Mosquera was picked out in the middle of the box as he rose highest, and powered his header on target, but it hit the underside of the crossbar and somehow stayed out.
Half-time | Villa 0-0 Wolves
Wolves began the second half strongly and could have put themselves ahead if not for a good defensive challenge from Torres. A break with Bellegarde saw the Haitian power into the Villa half and slide a cross towards Strand Larsen at the far post, but the defender was able to divert the ball off the boot of the Norwegian and deny him a tap in.
Moments later, a cross into the Villa box was headed away only as far as Bellegarde who struck a sweet volley on target, but Martinez was able to push the ball and stop it from nestling inside the bottom corner.
Wolves continued to restrict Villa to shots from distance, with one just before the hour mark seeing Rogers fire high over Johnstone’s crossbar.
But less than 10 minutes later, the hosts took the lead from another shot from outside the box. John McGinn was played in down the right and the Villa captain was able to pick out Kamara just outside the Old Gold penalty area, and he leathered an arrow of an effort into the top corner, leaving Johnstone with no chance of keeping it out.
Although Villa were buoyed by taking the lead – and came close to a second when McGinn’s shot took a heavy deflection off Strand Larsen and despite wrong-footing Johnstone, it fell wide of the post – Wolves’ heads didn’t drop.
Edwards’ side kept pushing for an equaliser and despite bringing on the likes of Tolu Aokodare, Tawana Chirewa and Mateus Mane – who had a shot which Martinez was able to gather in – to try and get something out of the contest, it wasn’t to be for the Old Gold, who were condemned to a 11th defeat from 13 Premier League outings.
Full-time | Villa 1-0 Wolves
Villa | Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Tielemans (Barkley 75)(Bogarde 88), Kamara (Sancho 88), McGinn, Buendia (Watkins 53), Rogers, Malen (Onana 75).
Unused subs | Bizot, Lindelof, Maatsen, Onana, Guessand.
Wolves | Johnstone, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, Agbadou, Toti, Wolfe (H Bueno 77), Andre, J Gomes, Bellegarde (Mane 77) (Chirewa 69), Arias (Arokodare 88), Strand Larsen.
Unused subs | Sa, Hoever, S Bueno, Munetsi, Hwang.
