It was a game of missed opportunities for both Aston Villa and Wolves in a game that ended all square. Both sides had very good chances to put the ball in the net but it just wasn’t to be.
Dean Smith handed Morgan Sanson his debut as he replaced Jacob Ramsey in the middle of the park. Marvelous Nakamba also dropped to the bench as Douglas Luiz returned to action. Trezeguet was also given his first start since January as he replaced Anwar El Ghazi who missed out through an infected toe.
Bright start for Villa
Villa were the better side in the first half and would have wondered how they failed to take the lead early on.
Ollie Watkins could have given Smith’s men a dream start within four minutes. Villa’s top scorer collected the ball from Sanson following a first-time passing move between the French men and John McGinn. Watkins turned towards the goal from around 25 yards out and unleashed a fierce drive but he was denied by the woodwork as Rui Patricio was beaten.
It’s not the first time the former Brentford striker had been denied by the woodwork this season, in fact, it was his SEVENTH!
Moments later, McGinn had forced Leander Dendonker into a mistake and once again set Watkins away but this time the forward chose the wrong option by trying to find Bertrand Traore when he probably should have taken it on himself.
The woodwork was then once again on Wolves side. Traore delivered a cross from the left and found Ezri Konsa. He brought the ball under control before smashing it off the bar as Wolves got away with another one.
The midfield three of McGinn, Sanson and Luiz were performing really well and causing problems for Wolves, helping with the high press.
Wolves fight back
The game was the complete opposite in the second half with Wolves being on top. It didn’t help that Villa lost Sanson to injury as Ross Barkley struggled to make an impact, once again.
Wolves biggest threat was Pedro Neto and he had their first effort on target in the game five minutes into the second half. The winger broke from a Villa corner and found himself one on one with Matt Targett. The left-back tried to force him wide but he still managed to get his shot away but Emiliano Martinez was equal to the effort.
Wolves were soon wondering how they hadn’t taken the lead through an unbelievable miss from Romain Saiss. Neto was once again involved, this time from a corner and his cross found an unmarked Connor Coady at the back post. His header hit the post and fell to Saiss who looked certain to score but he could only hit the rebound over the bar from a yard out.
Despite Wolves domination in the second half, VIlla probably should have robbed it late on. The ball fell to Konsa in the box but he failed to hit the ball on target.
In a game of missed opportunities and two halves, it was probably a fair result in the end. Both sides will believe they could have pinched it as Villa’s consistency problems continue.
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