Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s early goal and Matheus Cunha’s late clincher gave Wolves a huge win in a west Midlands derby that boosted the hosts and further frustrated the visitors to the Molineux.
Wolves held just 32 percent of the ball but was so good in counter attack, only out-attempted 8-7 despite the possession disadvantage.
WATCH – Wolves v Aston Villa full replay
The win boosts Wolves out of the bottom three with 19 points, two more than 18th-place Leicester City and three clear of 19th-place Ipswich.
Unai Emery’s visitors go home in eighth place, four points off the top four.
Villa’s UEFA Champions League league phase saw them perform admirably, winning a bye to the knockout phase, but the Villans have won just one Premier League fixture immediately following a UCL matchday.
Wolves vs Aston Villa final score: 2-0
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde 12', Matheus Cunha 90+7'
Wolves vs Aston Villa live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa
Huge win for Vitor Pereira. Huge.
Matheus Cunha goal — Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa (90+7')
Hugo Bueno dispossesses a slipping Morgan Rogers and Hee-chan Hwang starts a counter attack.
It leads to a long Matheus Cunha breakaway and he holds the ball in the 18, forcing Villa to consider whether he might head for the flag.
He finds an opening a fires a low shot across goal and inside the far post.
Malen again!
Malen is slipped into the box and his left-footed shot is saved by the fully-extended Martinez.
Still 1-0 Wolves, 90th minute.
Brave defending denies Malen, Bailey
Unsure how Donyell Malen gets off this 20-yard shot off in traffic, especially with venom, but Emiliano Martinez gets low to his right to parry it.
Leon Bailey has a dig at the rebound but Matt Doherty takes the full weight of the shot and it’s still 1-0.
Villa goal offside, VAR confirms
It’s a good goal for Donyell Malen, but an offside Morgan Rogers on the pass through the six to Malen is judged to have defied Nelson Semedo’s chance to stop the ball en route.
It stays 1-0 to Wolves as we enter then 58th minute.
FOUR Villa changes at the break
Unai Emery really shaking things up with four moves, only one possibly due to injury.
That’s Ollie Watkins — we’ll see if there are reports confirming any particular ailment besides exhaustion — and he’s leaving along with Andres Garcia, Lucas Digne, and
Into the game are Donyell Malen, Ian Maatsen, Leon Bailey, and Amadou Onana.
Halftime — Wolves 1-0 Aston Villa
It’s been a counter-attacking course taught to perfection excepting the final ball.
Wolves have had just over one-third of the ball but have not allowed Villa much danger.
But multiple big chances have only led to one goal.
Guedes misses again
Guedes shakes Garcia and hits a low left-footed effort that drags across goal, beyond Martinez and the far post.
You can’t help but feel like Wolves will rue the last two missed chances.
Should be 2-nil!
Matheus Cunha wins a 50:50 and is 1v1 with Martinez, who saves the Brazilian’s shot.
The rebound falls on the path of Goncalo Guedes, who cannot squeeze it inside the near post.
Either could’ve, or even should’ve supplied an all-important second goal.
Wolves frustrating off-kilter rivals
Villa are not doing much to frustrate the narrative that they aren’t at their best after Champions League matches.
Wolves are helping the story line, for sure, with commitment to the physical side of the game and pressing.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde goal — Wolves 1-0 Aston Villa (12th minute)
Oh, it’s a perfectly-timed run and a matching finish.
Pablo Sarabia plays a pair of Wolves into the box and it’s Jean-Ricner Bellegarde who decides to shoot from a tight angle.
The ball is smashed beyond the hopes of Emiliano Martinez, and it’s 1-0 to the underdog hosts.
Derbies, man.
Wolves lineup
Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Agbadou, T. Gomes, Ait-Nouri, Andre, Bellegarde, Sarabia, Guedes, Cunha
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Garcia, Konsa, Kamara, Digne, McGinn, Bogarde, Tielemans, Ramsey, Rogers, Watkins
Wolves vs Aston Villa preview — By Joe Prince-Wright
Vitor Pereira’s Wolves have lost four in a row to drop back into the relegation zone as their new manager bounce is well and truly over. Pereira’s side lost 1-0 at home against Arsenal last weekend despite being up a player for a large chunk of the game. Defensive issues continue to hamper Wolves who are very easy to create chances against.
Aston Villa are celebrating finishing in the top eight of the Champions League to secure an automatic spot into the last 16 of the competition, with Unai Emery once again proving to be a master of European cup competitions. In the Premier League they’re doing pretty well too. Villa are unbeaten in their last six but drew at home against West Ham last time out. Emery’s side are five points off the top four but are still right in the hunt for Champions League qualification. That said, both Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran have been linked with moves away in the final days of the transfer window.
Wolves team news, focus
OUT: Jorgen Strand Larsen (thigh), Joao Gomes (suspension), Mario Lemina (club discipline), Toti Gomes (hamstring), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Enso Medina (knee), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Leon Chiwone (knee - out for season), Carlos Forbs (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Boubacar Traore (knee)
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: Tyrone Mings (knee), Pau Torres (ankle), Ross Barkley (calf), Amadou Onana (thigh), Matty Cash (muscle)
Wolves vs Aston Villa prediction
This will be a tight, tense game and Villa will have to be patient. But one of their star forwards will step up to deliver the goods. Wolves 0-2 Aston Villa.
How to watch Wolves vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday (February 1)
Venue: Molineux — Wolverhampton
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com