NEVES SAY DIE
The comeback is complete... Wolves star admits the team is clicking again under a new boss and a new style
ASTON VILLA 2
Ings 48, Mcginn 68 WOLVES 3
Saiss 80, Coady 85, Neves 90+5
REPLACING Nuno Espirito Santo was always going to be a tough ask but afternoons like this could create a new love affair for his successor.
Taking Wolves from the Championship into the top seven of the Premier League and Europe rightly made Nuno a Molineux legend despite last term’s 13th-placed finish.
The task for his replacement Bruno Lage (right) was very daunting, especially after opening with three top-flight losses.
It sparked questions over his tactics and more open, attacking approach. But no one is complaining after Wolves’ thrilling late win at West Midlands rivals Aston Villa.
Wolves looked out of it when second-half goals by Danny Ings and John Mcginn put Villa 2-0 up. But an incredible finish saw them score in the 80th, 85th and
95th minutes to seal a remarkable victory to the delight of their stars and ecstatic away fans.
Match-winner Ruben Neves said: “We didn’t have a great season last year, so we all wanted to bounce back again.
“There’s been some changes – a new manager and a new way to play.
“We are working really well and are trying to get as many points as we want. At the start of the season we had three defeats in a row and we wanted to bounce back.
“The season started really badly for us but the fans kept going and pushing us forward.
“They help us and this win is for them.
“We spoke before the game – it means a lot to them, a lot to us and a lot to Wolverhampton.”
Wolves are only the third team in Premier League history to score three goals from the 80th minute onwards to overturn a 2-0 deficit and win 3-2 after Reading in 2013 and Wigan in 2010.
All the goals came from setpieces as Romain Saiss started the comeback from close-range from sub Daniel Podence’s pass after a corner.
Then skipper Conor Coady bundled in following good work by Adama Traore after Max Kilman had headed against the bar following another corner.
Neves sparked an explosion of joy in the away end when his free-kick took a big deflection to wrong-foot Emiliano Martinez.
It was a sweet moment for Neves after Mcginn’s shot had earlier deflected off him.
Neves said: “The boys that came on made a lot of difference as well, because they came as fresh legs to push the team forward.
“It’s all about team spirit as well. After the first goal I really believed we could score again.
“We did with five to go and then that goal went in.
“It’s the best part of football when this happens, because we felt this game was so important for our fans.”