Wolves secured only their second Premier League victory of the season, beating Aston Villa 2-0 to move to 13 points and end any lingering fears of surpassing Derby County's record-low tally of 11 from the 2007-08 campaign. Goals from João Gomes and Rodrigo Gomes sealed the win, sparking an emotional celebration from head coach Rob Edwards, who beat his chest and kicked an advertising hoarding. Villa manager Unai Emery, meanwhile, marched straight down the tunnel before the post-match handshakes.
The defeat deepens Villa's recent slump, with just one win in their past six matches across all competitions and 12 points from their last nine league games. Emery acknowledged the frustration, saying that some supporters may have been dreaming of a title challenge, but noted that the objective in September was simply to stay in the Premier League. The loss could also have significant implications for Villa's hopes of returning to the Champions League.
João Gomes fired in his first goal in a year just after the hour mark, starting the move himself after nutmegging substitute Ross Barkley. Rodrigo Gomes then sealed the victory on the counter-attack, after Yerson Mosquera and José Sá combined to deny Amadou Onana. Following a recycled corner from Morgan Rogers, Wolves attacked three against two, with Rodrigo Gomes swivelling near the penalty spot and beating Emiliano Martínez.
The driving rain and saturated pitch made for a scrappy contest, bogged down by misplaced passes and clumsy touches. Villa defender Ezri Konsa was almost caught out when he nudged the ball back to his goalkeeper with his big toe, while Emery grew increasingly agitated, exploding as Jadon Sancho declined to take a first-time shot at the back post. Wolves' defenders, including Hugo Bueno, Toti Gomes, and Jackson Tchatchoua, put in sturdy shifts to repel Villa's attacks.
Despite being almost certainly bound for the Championship, Wolves showed they will go down fighting, as they did in drawing with league leaders Arsenal. The win was savoured by the poncho-clad home supporters, and the final whistle prompted a celebratory pile-on from the players. For Villa, this untimely slip may prove costly as they look to secure a top-four finish.
