Aston Villa got what they deserved as a toothless derby day performance saw them lose 2-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A promising start was wiped out the second Jonny fired home in the seventh minute and Villa failed to regain any control on the game.
Lucas Digne was replaced after 10 minutes with what manager Steven Gerrard described as a “stomach complaint” and his replacement Ashley Young headed into his own net to give Villa a mountain to climb before the break.
Ollie Watkins slotted home a contentious penalty in the dying minutes to give the Villans hope but a dramatic comeback wasn’t to be as the home side held on.
Wolves (3-5-2): Sa; Jonny, Boly, Coady, Kilman, Marcal; Moutinho, Dendoncker; Podence (68’ Hwang), Silva (90’ Chiquinho), Trincao (75’ Neto)
Subs not used: Ruddy, Cundle, Gomes, Ait-Nouri, Saiss, Semedo
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Mings, Konsa, Digne (13’ Young); McGinn, Sanson (72’ Luiz), Ramsey; Coutinho (74’ Buendia), Watkins, Bailey
Subs not used: Olsen, Chambers, Chukwuemeka, Iroegbunam, Traore
1. Emiliano Martinez - 7*
Left helpless with the goals and made a couple of fine saves in the game. For that alone he probably gets man-of-the-match. | Getty Images
2. Matty Cash - 6
Nearly bagged an unlikely equaliser right at the death but was largely ineffective. | Getty Images
3. Tyrone Mings - 6
Was hassled from the Wolves fans from minute one but was nowhere near the worst player on the pitch. Photo: Eddie Keogh
4. Ezri Konsa - 5
Slipped to let Wolves in for their first goal of the day. Villa never recovered after that. Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS