Second-half strikes by Joao Gomes and Rodrigo Gomes gave Wolves a powerful first win in 9 matches because the rock-bottom aspect within the Premier League put West Midlands neighbours Aston Villa vulnerable to being overtaken by Manchester United this weekend.
Beneficiant defending by the third-placed Villans allowed Joao Gomes to carry a end previous goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from contained in the field to interrupt the impasse within the 61st minute at Molineux, pouncing after Adam Armstrong utilized a contact to Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross from the suitable.
João Gomes breaks the impasse after a sweeping transfer! 🔓 pic.twitter.com/wNDF2GHTJF
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 27, 2026
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards turned to have fun jubilantly with the visiting followers when Rodrigo Gomes swivelled to fireplace in a low end and double his aspect’s benefit within the 98th minute, the ricochet from Joao Gomes’ blocked shot falling for the wideman.
United will overhaul Villa in the event that they win at dwelling to Crystal Palace on Sunday (14:00 GMT). Wolves are 14 factors from security with 9 matches of their league season remaining.
Rodrigo Gomes seals the win for Wolves! ✅ pic.twitter.com/GXdgfi4kxc
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 27, 2026
Evaluation: Villa falter once more with defeat at Wolves
Villa boss Unai Emery had publicly warned his gamers that Wolves had not deserved to lose 1-0 at Villa Park shortly after Rob Edwards arrived in November, and the doomed-looking guests gained revenge with their solely try on the right track towards opponents who’ve had a faltering February, remaining 5 factors behind Manchester Metropolis and 10 shy of Arsenal after this end result.
Pau Torres miscued a header from a presentable alternative, Ollie Watkins hesitated when nicely positioned to shoot contained in the field and Douglas Luiz despatched a volley at goalkeeper Jose Sa because the hosts laboured earlier than the break, with Sa then pushing an Ian Maatsen strike from shut vary away after Wolves took the lead.
Former Wolves striker Don Goodman mentioned he had been “actually upset” by Villa’s efficiency earlier than the primary aim.
“They haven’t been in a position to put Wolves on the again foot and below sustained strain,” Goodman informed Sky Sports activities. “That’s what I anticipated within the second half.”
Right here’s how Villa fared this month, successful certainly one of their 5 league matches and dropping three out of six in all competitions.
What’s going unsuitable for Villa? Wolves tactical ‘gameplan’ works
“They’re nowhere close to the crew I’ve seen this season,” former Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie informed the broadcaster, whose protection appeared to point out defender Ezri Konsa trying sad with disgruntled followers.
“I’m seeing a crew who look scared to create – gamers approaching aren’t an influence. There are many issues I might pick.
“That’s simply not ok. You come up towards a aspect who’re backside of the Premier League… in a giant derby recreation, that may be a large wake-up name for Villa.”
Former England girls’s worldwide Izzy Christiansen mentioned Villa have been “actually poor in possession”. “You may’t assist however take a look at the truth that Rob Edwards’ gameplan stopped Villa from doing what they wished to do,” added Christiansen.
“He challenged the way in which they arrange and so they’ve received a end result to point out for it. From Villa’s perspective, it was a very dire efficiency.
“Abysmal is the proper phrase to explain it. They appear so disconnected. They’ve been so nicely coached in the previous couple of years however they’re on a foul run and so they might find yourself paying for that massively.”
A intelligent flick from Mateus Mané forces Matty Money right into a foul 🟨 pic.twitter.com/8x0ioNdWNH
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 27, 2026
Wolves crew vs Aston Villa
On-loan Girona defender or midfielder Ladislav Krejci was suspended for Wolves after being despatched off towards Palace.
Defender Toti and midfielder Joao Gomes have been the brand new faces of their beginning aspect, with Tolu Arokodare shifting to the bench.
Ahead Hee Chan Hwang had returned to coaching following an harm however was not concerned. Winger Enso Gonzalez had a long-term knee harm.
Wolves beginning XI: Jose Sa, Yerson Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, Toti Gomes, Jackson Tchatchoua, Joao Gomes, Andre, Hugo Bueno, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Adam Armstrong, Mateus Mane
Wolves substitutes: Sam Johnstone, Matt Doherty, David Moller Wolfe, Tolu Arokodare, Pedro Lima, Rodrigo Gomes, Angel Gomes, Saheed Olagunju, Tom Edozie
Aston Villa crew vs Wolves
Villa made three modifications, bringing in defenders Pau Torres and Lucas Digne and winger Jadon Sancho for Tyrone Mings, Maatsen and Leon Bailey.
Goalkeeper Marco Bizot returned on the bench following suspension, joined by new winger Alysson, who had not featured since making his debut towards Brighton & Hove Albion on February 11, lacking two matches via harm since then.
Midfielders John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara remained out.
Aston Villa beginning XI: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Money, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, Jadon Sancho, Amadou Onana, Morgan Rogers, Douglas Luiz, Emiliano Buendia, Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa substitutes:, Marco Bizot, Victor Lindelof, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Tammy Abraham, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Leon Bailey, Alysson
Wolves vs Aston Villa stats
Wolves have received 5 of their final seven Premier League dwelling video games towards Villa (D1 L1) and are unbeaten in 5 since a 1-0 defeat in December 2020
Rob Edwards’ aspect have failed to attain in a league-high 15 totally different Premier League video games this season. Solely in 2009/10 (17) and 2021/22 (16) have they failed in additional in a single marketing campaign
Every of Wolves’ earlier seven Premier League wins (relationship to March 2025) had been towards groups within the backside seven, with these sides having a median place of seventeenth. They’d been winless in 17 towards sides within the prime half (D5 L12) since a 1-0 win at Bournemouth in February 2025
Their file of conceding first in 22 totally different Premier League video games this season is the worst of any crew. Of the 40 groups to play greater than 200 video games within the competitors, Wolves have conceded first within the highest share of them (59.6%, doing so in 266 of 446 matches)
Villa had received three of their earlier 4 Premier League video games towards Wolves (L1), as many as of their earlier 15 (D6 L6)
They failed to finish a Premier League double within the fixture for the primary time since 2003/04
Since a run of eight Premier League wins in a row between November 9 and December 27 this season, Villa haven’t had a repeated lead to any of their final 10 video games (LWDLWLDWDL), final drawing consecutive video games in September towards Everton and Sunderland
Three of Villa’s final 4 Premier League targets have been scored over the last 5 minutes of regular time (88th, 86th and 88th), whereas they’ve netted 63.2% of their targets in the course of the second half of video games (24/38)
Solely in 2015/16 (70.4%), 1999/00 (69.6%) and 2007/08 (66.2%) have they scored the next share of second-half targets in a Premier League season
What’s subsequent for Wolves and Aston Villa? Fixtures, schedule
Wolves host one of many groups chasing Villa, Liverpool, twice in every week: within the league on Tuesday (20:15) and within the FA Cup fifth spherical on Friday (20:15).
Villa host Chelsea on Wednesday (19:30), then go to French aspect Lille within the first leg of the Europa League final 16 on March 12 (17:45).
