At the end of the season, how costly might this untimely slip prove for Aston Villa? Judging by the way Unai Emery fumed on the touchline, this defeat by their near neighbours Wolves will hurt for a while yet and, significantly, it could have major implications on their hopes of returning to the Champions League.
Wolves understandably savoured every moment of only their second Premier League win of the season, every outfield player joining the celebrations as João Gomes fired in his first goal in a year just after the hour, and then again joyously when Rodrigo Gomes made it 2-0 in the 98th minute. The win meant Wolves at least can say they have beaten Derby’s record Premier League low points tally of 11 from 2007-08.
But Emery’s wait to taste victory at Molineux goes on, the Spaniard winless in all five visits here as a manager. For him and for Villa, Wednesday’s date with Chelsea at Villa Park just got a little bit meatier.
Until João Gomes started and superbly finished that Wolves move, the excitement in the stands was largely contained to the half-time break, a stimulating small-sided kids’ game between these local rivals. For the record, Wolves won that one, too, the goalscorer celebrating by sitting on the turf and mimicking a meditating Erling Haaland. It triggered a wave of positivity from the hardy souls in the stands and it was almost omnipresent when the ball crashed into Emiliano Martínez’s net in front of the South Bank.
