Nick Parkes analyses Wolves performance against Aston Villa.
Despite arguably the best performance of the season, Wolves couldn’t find an answer to Kamara’s long range effort and ultimately lost 1-0 in Edwards’ first away game as Wolves boss.
The new manager made 3 changes from last week’s defeat to Palace as Toti, Arias & Bellegarde came in for Krejci, Munesti, and Arokodare.
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Johnstone
Wolfe, Toti, Mosquera, Agbadou, Tchatchoua
Bellegarde, Andre, Joao Gomes
Arias, Larsen
FIRST HALF
In front of a packed Villa Park, Wolves started the game on the back foot. Early Villa pressure found Johnstone flapping at a cross which eventually ended up hitting Wolfe and looped up on to the bar, luckily the ball stayed out and then eventually out of play.
After the initial scare, Wolves settled down and started to have more of the possession, and despite sitting a little too deeply, we did put together an incredible move which started with a through ball to Tchatchoua on our right hand side, he had the beating of his defender and crossed the ball to the penalty spot and Larsen was there to finish well. Unfortunately, Arias had also made a run into the box and obstructed the ‘keeper’, in an offside position and the goal was then rightly ruled out for offside.
Wolves continued to have the lions-share of possession in the first half and Bellegarde was able to pick the ball up on the turn quite a few times and cause Villa problems. The defence also looked a lot more compact and switched on. Agbadou in particular made a crucial interception from a dangerous cross into the box; he also looked close to his old self when stepping into the ball and not allowing the attacker to hold it up.
The fight was really clear to see in the opening 45 and the Villa crowd started to voice their concern. Tchatchoua continued to use his pace to great affect and linked up well again with Larsen, when the latter beat his marker at the front post from a cross, only to have his shot well saved.
It was the Villa keeper again who kept Wolves from opening the scoring and this time with potentially the save of the season so far. Deep into injury time, Mosquera beat his defender from a cross and powered his header on goal, it was destined to hit the back of the net but for Martinez’s brilliance, who clawed it from almost behind him, onto the bar and away from danger. It was an oh-so-close moment for Wolves, and if it had gone in, it would have been exactly what Rob Edwards’ team deserved going into half time.
SECOND HALF
The start of the second half was more end to end, with Villa looking threatening as well as Wolves. The 50th minute could have easily seen 3 goals scored; and Wolves really should have been ahead. First Larsen was played through down our right hand side, if he had looked up, he would have found Bellegarde in a great position but eventually the ball was lost. Then Villa went straight up the other end with Maalen who had the beating of Agbadou and only Toti denied Villa a great goal scoring opportunity. Then came back Wolves with Bellegarde this time down our left. He danced through a played a low cross into the box for the onrushing Larsen, and the slightest touch from a Villa defender took it away from the Wolves striker.
ARTICLE BY NICK PARKES
Hi, I’m Nick! Born in Wolverhampton and currently living in Barcelona. I’ve been a Wolves fan since birth (dad’s choice) and was a north bank season ticket holder in my younger days. My favourite all-time player, Bully!
I’m an English teacher by trade and when I’m not scolding teenagers in the class, I’m either running, gardening or watching cricket!