Ill tempered derby ends in stalemate

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Aston Villa 1

As the clock reached 90 minutes of this scrappy derby, it was perhaps inevitable that referee Rob Jones – who had an undistinguished game - should subject us to a further 12 minutes of “entertainment”. Wolves spent two thirds of those twelve minutes with ten men, Mario Lemina being dismissed in minute 94 for a second bookable offence. Thus did the visitors lay siege to the Wolves goal, the home side lucky that Ezri Konsa, Nicolo Zaniolo and Douglas Luis all failed to convert good chances before Ollie Watkins hit an upright with literally the final act of the game. Wolves had ridden their luck, a rare occurrence of late but whilst Aston Villa were the better side the draw was probably a fair reflection of the match.

Following last week’s fine win against Manchester City, Wolves Manager Gary O’Neill stuck with an unchanged side and formation. One senses the back five is here to stay. But a week is a long time in football and unlike the City game entertainment was thin on the ground. In amongst the pathetic play acting and manhandling there were but two chances the first in minute seven when a Matty Cash volley was well saved by Jose Sa. And the second on the half hour when Ryan Ait Nourri fired wide from a Hwang Hee-chan cross. And that was just about it.

The restart promised greater enterprise as Villa came out of the blocks quickly, Jose Sa saving well from Watkins at the near post. But five minutes later Wolves took the lead when Pedro Neto outsprinted Lucas Digne down the right flank. Reaching the bye-line he crossed to Hee-chan who poked home from inside the six-yard box to claim his fifth goal of the campaign.

Grizzled pros will tell you that a side is at its most vulnerable after it has scored and so it proved here. Two minutes later Joao Gomez fouled Boubacar Kamara on the right wing. From the ensuing free kick Wolves failed to clear their lines the ball falling to Watkins who now turned provider, his floated cross being volleyed home by Pau Torres. It was his first goal for the club. Fifteen minutes later Neto appeared to be brought down in the box only for the referee to wave play on and seven minutes later he was again involved this time firing wildly over the bar following an excellent low cross from Sasa Kalajdjic.

From then until the end of the game it was backs to the wall for the Old Gold. But as with last week the central back three of Kilman, Dawson and Toti held firm and the side and did just enough to earn the draw.

The point moves Wolves above Brentford into 14th place heading into the international break while Villa remain in 5th.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa 8, Semedo 7, Dawson 8, Kilman 8, Gomes 7, Ait Nourri 6 Sub Doherty 6, Gomes 6 Sub Traore, Lemina 7, Cunha 6 Sub Kalajdcic, Hee-chan 8 Sub Silva, Neto 8

Aston Villa: Martinez 6, Konsa 6, Diego Carlos 6, P Torres 7, Digne 6, Cash 6 Sub Bailey, Kamara 6 Sub Tielemans, Douglas Luis 6, McGinn 6, Diaby 6 Sub Zaniolo, Watkins 6

Attendance: Not stated

Referee: Rob Jones 6

©Mark Brennand