Aston Villa threw away a 2-0 lead in a barmy 15 minutes that saw them concede three poor goals and gift Wolves all three points.
Dean Smith opted to bring Axel Tuanzebe back in for Kortney Hause while Emi Buendia replaced Jacob Ramsey.
The first half was certainly 45 minutes no one will remember in any great hurry. In a half that saw very few chances and mistakes all over the pitch from both sides. In comparison, the second half was a real treat, for the neutral, I guess?
Three minutes into the second half and the home team took the lead when John McGinn beat Romain Saiss and crossed the ball for Danny Ings who headed home.
Villa doubled their lead 20 minutes later through our favourite Scotland International. McGinn’s long-range effort took a deflection and into the back of the net. Villa looked comfortable at this stage.
Smith made changes with Marvelous Nakamba, Ashley Young and Ramsey replacing Douglas Luiz, Matty Cash and Buendia respectively.
And now for the collapse.
Saiss got on the end of a Daniel Podence cross to give the away side some hope of a possible comeback on 80 minutes. Five minutes later, the visitors were level when Connor Coady got the final touch on a scramble inside the box.
Villa looked all over the place and when Wolves were awarded a free-kick with the last kick of the game, you knew exactly what was coming.
Ruben Neves free-kick took a deflection to give Wolves all three points.
The Bad
- The collapse after the substitutions are as bad as I have seen it under Dean Smith. You could blame the changes, the system or the players. The fact is if we are to improve on last seasons finish, we can’t be throwing two-goal leads away.
- I have praised the manager this season for adapting into a 5-3-2. What I didn’t realise is he would stick with this formation. Wolves will admit they were poor for the majority of the game, in particular, the first half but for a second game running we were just as poor. We looked second best in midfield and we couldn’t string two passes together. David Moyes showed for West Ham today that you need to be able to change systems, and sometimes in-game as he switched from a 4-2-3-1 to a 5-3-2 due to a forced substitution. Smith needs to add this to his management skills.
- Ollie Watkins v Danny Ings. I didn’t understand the signing fully when we did it and I still don’t know now. There is no doubt that we have two very talented strikers at our exposal but this shouldn’t mean we have to shoehorn them into the side. Competition is healthy, so rotate the pair depending on form because right now, for me, the two of them aren’t working. We don’t create enough for two so need another man in the midfield.
The Good
- John McGinn seems to be in the best shape and form since he’s joined Villa and that’s quite the compliment given how good he was in his first 12-18 months with Villa. He looks fitter and more determined than ever which can only be good for Villa.
- Although he was far from perfect, Emi Buendia seemed to really grow into the game. He will feel he probably should have had an assist when he played Ings through on goal but could only watch on as it was saved when it looked easier to score. I am still unsure the no.10 is the right position for him but with the attributes he has, you would think it should work, in time.