Sighs from both sides showed the fans know best as a cautious
Aston Villa team came out with all three points thanks to the player that had
Wolves fans fearing the worst.
Starting brightly Villa looked offensive and full of
purpose; some loose passes from either side allowed some younger players to
settle and the opening goal from a penalty on ten minutes delivered a black
country present to the claret and blues.
Darren Bent did well to win the penalty and score the first
goal, but it was a gift that he literally stole from the foot of Berra who went
to kick the ball but instead connecting with Bents foot as he nipped in the
steal the last touch.
Full of confidence some managers may have continued to push
with a high midfield and linking Irishman but Aston Villa showed nerves and
panic as they protected their lead and spent the next 35minutes pinging balls
over Keane’s head. Clearly nobody had bothered to do their homework as an
insightful Wolves went about slicing the Aston Villa defence apart and pulling
their players from their positions thus allowing space past midfield and on the
wings.
Clark at left back found Kightly impossible to track and was
given no support by a disappointing Agbonlahor; Kightly made the most of his
space and showed why the Wolves fans have been holding out so much hope for the
injury prone winger. The warnings were not heeded and Kightly spent 45 minutes
skipping past defenders, delivering quality crosses and corners and finding the
back of the net. His lovely equalising goal for Wolves had a Villa backline
stationary and full backs scrambling, Given couldn’t get down quickly enough
and Kightly duly drove across the defence and found the corner of the net with
a low curling shot.
The warning signs kept coming for the Villa as an excellent
Kightly caused them problems in open play and serious issues from set pieces;
ultimately Albrighton’s clearance off the line fomr a Wolves corner was an omen
as Edwards headed the ball into the net from a Roger Johnson corner flick on.
Wolves could have been 4 – 1 up at half time but they would have to settle for
2 – 1 as a beleaguered Aston Villa traipsed off the pitch with no doubt a managerial
tirade coming their way.
Wolves came out unchanged but McLeish made a brave move by
taking off Agbonlahor and putting on Warnock to quell the danger of Kightly.
Clark goes to midfield, Albrighton to the left and Gardner moves to right wing.
The second half starts the same with Aston Villa giving the ball away and
Wolves teasing them with possession play.
In truth the second half didn’t really start for the Villa
until Keane took control and Frimpong came off after Petrov kicked him in the
eye; diving headers are for the brave. Keanes stunning on the turn shot curled
past Hennesey and the Irishman bowed his head to the supporters as a gesture of
respect. It was a great goal only surpassed by his stunning second and winner
in the 84th minute. Once again he showed great respect to the fans
even after controlling the ball beautifully and lashing the winner into the net
from 25yards.
Throughout the game Wolves played well but the problems at
Aston Villa were evident; their fortune today came in the shape of two
excellent solo strikes, the injury of Frimpong and the 76th minute
sending off of Henry for a stamp on Marc Albrighton.
Petrov played slow backward football, Gabby was ill (for the
last 5 games perhaps) and Collins and Hutton made every attempt to give Wolves
all the space and time they needed.
McCarthy was no doubt gutted that he took nothing; clearly
today luck was against him and very much for the Villa.
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