WOLVES FANS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS FOLLOWING A 1-0 LOSS TO ASTON VILLA
CRAIG HICKEY
PAM WELLS
Few changes for a really important game
It was refreshing to see us look determined and really up for the fight. It was also great to see sharp playing again. If only we had taken our chances, we could have gone in at half-time one goal up. The big question was, could we keep up this level of performance?
We started the second half in the same way, but missed more chances and were made to pay for it.
The subs came on, but we lost our composure, gave away too many free kicks, and ended up losing a game we should have won.
Performance rating: 7
JOHN TARAS
Another game has gone by with nothing to show for it. On chances alone, Wolves let Villa mug them for all three points at Villa Park.
After soaking up early pressure from Villa, Wolves started to use the wide areas.
Tchatchoua sent in a cross, and Larsen hooked the ball from behind him from about 18 yards. It flew out of Martinez’s reach and into the net.
But of course, it did not count.
The hapless Arias had strayed offside and was judged to have affected Martinez’s reaction. It was the first positive thing Arias had done all game, and it still went against us.
Apart from giving away too many needless free kicks, Wolves saw out the first half fairly well.
The second half followed the same pattern.
Martinez saved several more Wolves efforts. You could feel where this was heading. Villa kept attacking, and Wolves kept blocking and clearing. But Wolves left too many Villa players unmarked on the edge of the box.
Kamara punished that. He struck from about twenty yards, past a crowd of defenders, into the top corner. Johnstone had no chance.
Martinez then denied Wolves again and again.
It felt like the ball was never going to go in.
On 99 minutes, the referee finally blew for full time and a Villa win.
Expected, yes. Deserved, no.
Unless Wolves become more clinical in front of goal, the slide toward the Championship will continue.
Next up are fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Wednesday at Molineux.
Forecast: unknown.
KARL WHITEHOUSE
This was a much better performance than last week. We competed well and caused Aston Villa real problems. We created good chances and could have scored from some decent build-up play.
Villa struggled to create much in the first half, which shows how well we were competing.
Our shape looked good. You can see what Rob is trying to do with this side. He is sticking with the five-at-the-back system, and it gives us flexibility and control.
In the second half, we kept the same momentum. We were still creating, but Villa started to raise the tempo and cause us more issues. We stayed firm, but one small mistake let Villa score. It felt harsh after such a solid display.
We did not let our heads drop. We kept going and did not collapse, even though there was a fear we might concede more.
The defenders stood strong and kept it to just one goal.
One big positive was Agbadou. He was much better today. Maybe we are finally getting him back to the player we hoped he would be. If so, he can really help us.
This has to be one of our best performances of the season, even though we lost.
There is still hope that a win is coming.
We need to carry the best parts of this display into the midweek game and try to turn it into three points.
As fans, we must keep backing Rob as he looks for his first win.
DAVE
This one hurts – but for the first time in a long while, it felt like our lads went down swinging.
Boubacar Kamara’s stunner was the difference in the end, firing Villa up to third after a gritty derby that was far tighter than anyone expected. Five wins on the bounce for them, sure – but they had to dig deeper than they’d planned because Wolves finally showed some fight and spirit.
Villa might be chasing Manchester City, but they struggled to break us down for long spells. We stood up to them, organised, committed, and far more alive than a bottom-of-the-table side is supposed to look. For once, you could see what Rob Edwards is trying to build.
We even thought we’d taken the lead when Jørgen Strand Larsen finished in the first half, only for VAR to chalk it off with Arias judged to be obstructing Emi Martínez. Still, we kept going. Larsen tested Martínez again, Mosquera’s header was tipped onto the bar, and the Villa keeper had to stop Bellegarde after the break. We weren’t passengers – we were problems.
And that’s what makes the ending frustrating. After surviving our best spells, Villa found one moment of real quality, Kamara drilling into the top corner with 23 minutes left.
Defeat keeps us winless and rooted to the bottom, nine points from safety, and Rob Edwards still staring down the barrel of a miracle. But this wasn’t the lifeless Wolves we’ve endured for months. There was intent. There was belief. There was fight.
If we keep showing this spirit, there’s still a chance – however small – that this story isn’t finished yet
SCOTT DRAME
Absolutely gutted with the result.
We should have won by three or four goals.
Match thoughts: probably our best game yet.
I do think Rob Edwards did the best he could, but his tactics still do not look very strong.
Man of the match: André, 110 percent, every single week.
Match performance: 7 or 8 out of 10.
We were just missing a goal and a bit of consistency in the second half.
LESLEY WHITEHOUSE
Good, solid performance from our lads today. They showed they can compete at this level by creating chances and forcing Aston Villa into mistakes. Villa struggled to get through our defence, because every player worked hard to keep them out.
We created a good number of chances and could have scored if we had been more clinical. That is an area we can improve, and you can already see signs of progress as Rob spends more time with this group. It is starting to show what he can bring to this Wolves side.
We were a bit lucky to keep Villa to just one goal, and on another day it could have been a heavy defeat. But there are so many positives to take.
If we keep playing like this, a win has to come soon.
We go again in midweek. Let’s see what happens, and keep backing the team to get a result.
Today’s defeat feels harsh, but we have to keep the faith in the players and in Rob, who has already started to get this team back on track in a short space of time.