LIAM BERRY DISCUSSES THE THINGS WE LEARNT FROM WOLVES V VILLA
In what is their seventh win out of nine at home so far this calendar year, Wolves beat in-form Aston Villa to pretty much guarantee their safety in the Premier League.
On the day of the Coronation, it was the Wolves players who were crowned the Pride of Midlands, overcoming highly-rated Villa whose recent run had seen them on the fringes of the battle for Europe.
The game started off lively, with both sets of fans going back and forth. Villa started the better team, but Wolves got the lead from a corner at the tenth minute mark, which was one they would never relinquish.
Let’s take a look into what we have learnt from this game:
1. Top Toti Revolution
Well, who would have expected this man to be thriving at full back!
Since he has been implemented at the full back role, Toti Gomes has been a whole new player, and has helped transform the defence.
Him being there, it has allowed Nelson Semedo to bomb on on the opposite flank, which seems to have transformed his game as well.
Not to mention his first goal. It’s no surprise it came from a header, as throughout the season we have often seen him rise up at corners and connect well with the ball.
This time, it found the net, to provide a fantastic moment in front of the North Bank.
What a player!
2. DEJA VU
Back in 2020/21 was probably Pedro Neto’s main breakthrough season, when he worked himself into top form – at he was unstoppable.
Unfortunately, injuries have set him back and stopped him from kicking on and continuing that great form.
However, he looked his old self against Villa, and was scintillating to watch. Even to the one passage of play when he was frantically closing people down and reacted positively after blocking a Villa clearance. Hopefully Neto can now stay injury free and unlock his potential under Julen Lopetegui.
3. LOPETEGUI V EMERY
The two Spanish coaches have faced each over often, having both managed in La Liga with their respective clubs, as well as now in the Premier League.
They have clashed horns a total of seven times now, three of which being this season.
Lopetegui has the bragging rights, beating Emery three times, drawing three and only losing once!
Let’s hope he can continue that record in the 2023/24 season.
4. "Jose Sa my lord!"
After being hammered 6-0 to Brighton, some fans on social media were calling for Jose Sa to be dropped. He had also given a penalty away in the previous away game at Leicester, but those calls felt harsh, especially given his recent record at Molineux.
He responded with another clean sheet at home against Villa, making some important saves to keep the lead for the hosts, including one fantastic effort to deny Emi Buendia.
That’s four successive clean sheets at home as Wolves have won those games to help secure safety. All of those seven wins at Molineux in the calendar year have been accompanied by clean sheets.
I think Sa has done more than enough to keep his spot, and the amount of games he has kept us in and ultimately won us points speaks for itself. He can have a few bad games but he is the best option we have by miles.
5. STUART ATTWELL
Well, a bit of a different topic.
This might have been the worst officiating in a derby I have seen for a while. Any sort of contact was getting blown for a foul by Stuart Attwell. On one occasion he wasn’t even watching so Emi Martinez took a free kick at least 10 yards away from where it was meant to be.
It wasn’t just against us, as three minutes of added time was extraordinary. That benefitted us but it should have been far more especially as Maximilian Kilman received treatment for almost that long even without considering the substitutions and other stoppages.
Referees are human, and can have bad games. But this was one of the worst officiating I have seen in a while. Thankfully it didn’t affect the result and Wolves were able to look back on a crucial win. And one which may just have slightly dampened Coronation day for Prince William the Prince of Wales, a well known Villa fan! A Wolves result fit for a King.
ARTICLE BY LIAM BERRY
I am a life long Wolves fan that is passionate for the club. I am a sixth form student who loves writing about things I love!
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