Aston Villa were the shadow of their recent selves as Wolverhampton Wanderers held them to a 1-1 draw at Villa Park. Daniel Podence’s clever first half finish was the difference at the break as Julen Lopetegui’s men earned a vital 1-0 lead but Villa fought back through Danny Ings to earn a point.
Wolves controlled possession in the opening stages and earned themselves a deserved early lead as winger Daniel Podence found the top left-hand corner with a peach of a strike. Layed back to him by Joao Moutinho, Podence cut in, passed a helpless Douglas Luiz with quick feet, and fired in a curling effort from just inside the penalty area.
The visitors took plenty of confidence from their opener as they maintained much of the ball and crafted a few more opportunities before the break. Matheus Nunes had perhaps the best of these, in the 23rd minute, as he ran through one-on-one but had a low shot saved by the legs of Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Villa were unable to create anything of note in the entirety of the first period as they looked lost with and without the ball. Matty Cash in an unusual, more advanced position; the right flank was no more than an avenue to losing possession. Unai Emery looked dejected on the touchline as his Villans were static; surprised by an improved Wolves.
The hosts did show an improvement after the interval, however, as Unai Emery made some big tactical overhauls – taking Ashley Young off for Philippe Coutinho and moving Cash back to his regular role at right-back. There was an injection of pace into attacks as Villa began to get a grip of the game.
Plenty more changes followed beyond the hour mark but it was Wolves’ half time substitute, Adama Traore, who was able to carve out the next big opportunity. Powering forward on the right, the Spaniard cut inside and put a powerful effort just over the crossbar.
There was a huge call for a penalty as massive call as the ball flicked up onto Hugo Bueno’s hand when the Spaniard failed to control it in his own box. VAR didn’t even take much notice despite the fact it looked a clear and obvious error. Villa substitute Ludwig Augustinsson then fired in an audacious volley toward the far top corner but an aware Max Kilman was there to head it off the line.
The pressure paid off soon after in the 77th minute as yet another sub, Danny Ings, controlled a wonderful Tyrone Mings long ball brilliantly into his path and dinked the ball over a stumbling Jose Sa. The former England striker has been linked with a move away but he was clinical as he sent the Villa Park faithful into raptures.
Wolves looked threatening on the counter attack toward the end as Rayan Ait-Nouri dribbled past a couple of Villa defenders and got a shot on target. Martinez was there to parry the ball away, though, rounding off a solid return to Premier League action.
Leon Bailey had a golden opportunity to win it at the death as he rounded Jose Sa but his effort was scuffed. The Jamaican missed an open goal; the miscued shot summed up his performance, unfortunately. A much better showing from the home side in the second half in a real game of two periods, but the points are shared. Here are our Villa player ratings from the clash.
1. Emiliano Martinez - 7
Couldn’t do much for Wolves’ opener but made loads of decent stops to keep his side in the game.
2. Ashley Young - 4 (off HT)
Hooked at half time as he struggled to pick up the pace of the game. The crosses he was able to put in were below par.
3. Ezri Konsa - 6
Was key to keeping it at 1-0 before half time with some good anticipation and low blocks. Accurate passing, but not playing forward enough.
4. Tyrone Mings - 8
Starting to adjust very well to Emery’s expectations to play out from the back and grabbed a deserved assist with a pinpoint long through ball to Ings. Was solid at the back, too.