Wolves secured a crucial victory over Aston Villa, lifting themselves out of the relegation zone with a determined and high-energy performance. The home side started brightly, setting the tone with relentless pressure and attacking intent. Their dominance was rewarded early when Jean Ricner-Bellegarde opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a well-taken goal.
The move began on the left before Matheus Cunha picked up possession 25 yards out. He played a quick one-two with Gonçalo Guedes, who in turn found Pablo Sarabia at the edge of the box. Spotting Bellegarde’s run down the right, Sarabia slipped a precise pass past Lucas Digne. Bellegarde, under pressure, could have opted to cut the ball back across goal but instead struck a powerful shot inside Emiliano Martínez’s near post, securing his second Premier League goal of the season.
Despite their control, Wolves failed to capitalize on their advantage before halftime. Cunha had a golden opportunity in the 36th minute after wrestling past Boubacar Kamara, but his shot was blocked by Martínez’s legs. Guedes also squandered two excellent chances—first dragging a shot wide when through on goal, then having another effort saved at point-blank range in added time.
Aston Villa struggled to impose themselves, continuing a trend of poor performances following Champions League fixtures. Recognizing the need for change, Unai Emery made four substitutions at halftime in an attempt to turn the game around. One of those changes, Donyell Malen, thought he had equalized just seven minutes after the restart, converting from a well-executed set piece. However, the goal was ruled out after VAR confirmed Morgan Rogers had obstructed Nélson Semedo in the buildup.
Villa pushed for an equalizer, with substitute Leon Bailey forcing a strong block from Emmanuel Agbadou and Malen testing José Sá with a powerful strike from distance. However, Wolves remained resilient, maintaining their defensive structure and preventing clear-cut opportunities.
As the visitors continued to search for a breakthrough, Wolves struck on the counterattack in stoppage time. Toti Gomes won possession and launched the ball forward to Cunha, who demonstrated his skill and composure to seal the victory. Twisting and turning inside the box, he held off his marker before drilling a precise shot past Martínez and into the far corner, securing all three points.
The win provided a vital boost for Wolves, who had lost their previous four matches, while Villa’s inconsistent league form persisted. Despite their improved second-half display, Emery’s side left Molineux empty-handed, with concerns growing over their ability to balance European commitments with domestic expectations.
