Neves lands knockout to thrill Bruno
Villa boss Smith is left ‘stunned’bycomeback
THE last time Romain Saiss played at Villa Park he produced one of the worst misses imaginable and cost Wolves victory.
Yet seven months after shooting over an open goal from just a yard, the Moroccan defender’s 80th-minute strike set Wolves on the way to a spectacular derby victory.
Goals from Danny Ings and John McGinn had put Aston Villa 2-0 up and they looked to be cruising but once Saiss scored, Villa lost their nerve.
Conor Coady claimed a rare goal to level it five minutes later and then in the fifth minute of stoppage time Ruben Neves’ free-kick from the edge of the penalty area took a huge deflection off Matt Targett, leaving Emiliano Martinez helpless.
‘Incredible,’ s a i d C o a d y, whose goal was only his fourth in more than six years with Wolves.
‘To win like that is next level. It came off my knee and one most people won’t remember but I will.
‘It was emotional and tough. It was a derby so to win the way we have from 2-0 down is incredible. I could see my wife and the boys in the stand at the end going mad.’
Until the turnaround, it looked as though McGinn’s inspirational display would be rewarded with victory but Villa were fragile under pressure. Wolves were second best for most of the game but showed superb fighting spirit.
‘There was stunned silence and probably some debate before I went in the [changing rooms],’ said Villa boss Dean Smith. ‘It’s three points we’ve thrown away.’
Villa nearly gifted Wolves the opener when Axel Tuanzebe played a free-kick straight to Leander Dendoncker, who quickly released Hwang Heechan, forcing Tyrone Mings to block. John McGinn then went close with a 30-yard volley that had Jose Sa scrambling across goal.
Wolves were late out for the second half, however, with the home crowd starting to whistle before they finally emerged. Three minutes later, they trailed.
McGinn delivered a perfect ball and Ings guided his header beyond Sa. Wolves’ misery was compounded in the 68th minute when Villa scored their second.
Hwang’s lay-off fell straight to Ollie Watkins and when Coady blocked the shot, it rebounded to McGinn 20 yards out. McGinn hit the ball sweetly and when it took a deflection off Neves, Sa could do nothing as the ball flew past him.
Villa looked in little trouble until Bruno Lage brought on Daniel Podence and he began to run at the home defence. With 10 minutes remaining, Neves sprung the offside trap and Podence squared for Saiss to tap home from six yards.
With Villa jittery, Wolves sensed their moment. More uncertain defending allowed Traore to turn the ball back into the danger zone where Dendoncker steered it towards Coady. The ball hit the defender and trickled over the line.
Villa tried to rally but Wolves had the final word. Adama Traore was fouled in shooting range by Jacob Ramsey and though Neves’ free-kick was struck weakly, it hit Targett in the wall, giving Martinez no chance. ‘That’s why I wanted to come to the Premier League as these are the games I want to live in my career,’ said Lage.
Wolves supporters will certainly agree.
ASTON VILLA (3-4-1-2): Martinez 6; Konsa 7, Tuanzebe 5, Mings 6; Cash 7 (Young 80min), McGinn 7.5, Luiz 7 (Nakamba 68, 6), Targett 6; Buendia 6.5 (Ramsey 74, 6); Watkins 7, Ings 6.5. Booked: Mings. Subs (not used): Steer, Sanson, El Ghazi, Hause, Philogene-Bidace, Archer.
WOLVES (3-5-2): Sa 6.5; Kilman 7, Coady 6, Saiss 6; Semedo 6, Dendoncker 7, Neves 6.5, Moutinho 6 (Silva 75), Marcal 5 (Podence 74); Hwang 5 (Jimenez 88), Traore 7. Booked: Neves. Subs (not used): Moulden, Ruddy, Hoever, Ait-Nouri, Boly, Cundle.
Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland) 6.
Villa last threw away a two-goal PL lead nine years ago, in a 3-2 home defeat by Man United