Wolves 2 (J Gomes 61, R Gomes 90+8) Aston Villa 0
Wolves earned a deserved victory over neighbours Aston Villa at a rain-soaked Molineux, after a battling display, Joao Gomes stunner and late Roderigo Gomes sealer in front of the South Bank.
Following a tight but eventful first-half, Joao Gomes broke the deadlock just after the hour mark to edge Wolves in front through a moment of quality, in off the underside of the crossbar.
Substitute Rodrigo Gomes then wrapped up the three points in the eighth minute of stoppage time, securing a standout moment in a difficult season at Molineux.
The hosts had settled the quicker and created the first chance of the game, but Mateus Mane’s dead-ball effort sailed narrowly wide.
Villa responded with two chances of their own soon after, though Yerson Mosquera made a superb recovery challenge to prevent Ollie Watkins from testing Jose Sa. Moments later, Pau Torres wriggled free from a corner but miscued his unchallenged header wide.
Wolves were next to try their luck, after cleverly working a free-kick to Mosquera, who headed back across goal to find Toti, but his volley failed to trouble Emiliano Martinez in the Villa net.
The opening 20 minutes remained entertaining, though it was the visitors who enjoyed the better opportunities. Douglas Luiz ghosted into the penalty area and met Matty Cash’s delivery with a fierce volley goalwards, but Sa was equal to the effort.
After a lively start, proceedings became uneventful in difficult conditions. Loose passes from both sides littered the remainder of the first half, causing the game to turn scrappy approaching half-time.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 Villa
The restart was similarly scrappy and stagnant, with the driving rain undoubtedly playing its part.
However, in the 60th minute, Joao Gomes provided the moment of quality the contest had been crying out for. Jackson Tchatchoua delivered a low cross into the penalty area, finding Adam Armstrong, who perfectly set the ball into the Brazilian’s path for him to strike a superb effort in off the underside of the crossbar.
Wolves built on their opener confidently, continuing to restrict their opponents to limited opportunities throughout the second half.
It took until the 76th minute for Sa to be tested after the break, when Ian Maatsen gained a yard inside the penalty area and struck goalwards, but the Wolves keeper was firmly behind the effort.
Still buoyed by their breakthrough, Wolves pushed for a second rather than growing complacent. Mane came close to a second after digging the ball out of his feet inside the penalty area and shooting on the spin, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
The second half was defined by grit and determination from Edwards’ side, and the crowd responded by fully embracing their role of the 12th man – particularly during the closing stages.
Moments before Rodrigo Gomes put the points beyond doubt in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Mosquera provided a monumental goal-line clearance to deny Tammy Abraham a dramatic last-minute equaliser.
Wolves immediately raced up the other end and, after Joao Gomes saw an effort blocked, Rodrigo Gomes pounced on the loose ball and fired low and hard beyond Martinez to seal all three points at the death.
Full-time | Wolves 2-0 Villa
Wolves | Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, S Bueno, Toti, H Bueno, Andre (A Gomes 89), J Gomes, Bellegarde (Arokodare 81), Mane, Armstrong (R Gomes 90+3).
Unused subs | Johnstone, Doherty, Wolfe, Lima, Olagunju, Edozie.
Villa | Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne (Maatsen 70), Onana, Luiz (Barkley 60), Sancho (Bailey 60), Buendia (Abraham 70), Rogers, Watkins (Alysson 81).
Unused subs | Bizot, Lindelof, Mings, Bogarde.
By Callum Greybanks
