Wolves 1 Aston Villa 1
Gary O’Neil’s side welcomed Aston Villa to Molyneux for a Midlands derby after having defeated Man City the previous weekend, while their opponents scored six against Brighton themselves. In-form Hwang Hee-Chan was looking to score in a fifth successive game and become the first Wolves player to do so since 1973.
McGinn created the first chance of the game as his ball into the back post was met by Cash but Jose Sa made a great save to deny him. It was a great reaction save from the keeper who got down well to get his left hand to it.
The hosts then came forward as Lemina did well to win the ball back and Ait-Nouri flashed a shot across goal but it was a tight angle to trouble Martinez in the Aston Villa goal. The effort did get the home fans going however.
After a first half of few chances, the game restarted with Watkins getting on the end of a McGinn cross to require another good save by Jose Sa as he tipped the ball over the bar. The Wolves stopper seemed in good form for the league’s oldest derby.
Credit: @Wolves
Pedro Neto then got forward and the in-form midfielder crossed to find Hwang who slotted the ball past Martinez in the Villa goal. The Wolves’ striker has really found his feet this season, getting the goals Gary O’Neil’s side have been craving.
Aston Villa did not dwell on going behind and immediately struck back as Ollie Watkins crossed to the back post for Pau Torres to poke the ball past Jose Sa. The away end erupted as Unai Emery’s side were back on level terms.
Lemina was booked soon after for a foul on Douglas Luiz. No arguments about the card it was an ill-timed challenge. Wolves started to ask questions of the visitors as Kalajdzic crossed a ball in behind the Villa defence perfectly for Neto but he blazed his effort over the crossbar.
As twelve minutes of added time was announced, Lemina was penalised for pulling the shorts of his opponent with the referee showing him a second yellow card, leaving the hosts with only ten men for the remainder of the game.
Konsa then drifted into the middle and was found by Digne but his shot was well saved by Sa, although the Villa man did seem to hit it straight at him. With added time all but over, the visitors created one more chance when Ollie Watkins met a cross but his header struck the foot of the post.
That was the last action of the game and the draw was probably a fair result, O’Neil will be pleased his side held on after having a player sent off. Watkins however will feel he should have won the game with his header in the dying moments of this derby.
Credit: @AVFCOfficial
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