Wolves player ratings as ‘unforgivable’ Nelson Semedo mistake hands Aston Villa victory
Semedo #Semedo
A last-gasp penalty from Anwar El Ghazi snatched victory for Aston Villa in the West Midlands derby with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The game came to life in the final 10 minutes as Douglas Luiz and Joao Moutinho were both sent off, with El Ghazi’s winner arriving in between.
Villa’s victory lifts them above Wolves who have now lost both of their games without star man Raul Jimenez.
‘Violently ill’ – Wolves fans react to late Aston Villa defeat as concerns raised
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Villa enjoyed more possession in the first half but Wolves created the better chances.
A trademark counter-attack from Pedro Neto, following great work by Joao Moutinho to dispossess Jacob Ramsey in midfield, led to Daniel Podence having an effort blocked well by Tyrone Mings.
Moments later Podence wriggled free of his markers on the edge of the box and forced an excellent save from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Another Wolves chance, this time the result of a rapid run by Adama Traore down the right, fell to Leander Dendoncker but he couldn’t beat Martinez either.
Villa’s best moments arrived through Jack Grealish, unsurprisingly, but aside from a dart into the box that needed a timely intervention from Conor Coady, Nelson Semedo and Dendoncker defended well against him in the first half.
The second half started in the same pattern with Villa having more of the ball but failing to penetrate Wolves.
In a bid to get his team moving forward, Nuno asked Neto and Traore to switch wings and it almost paid off just after the hour mark. Neto drifted in from the right, dummied a couple of times, and unleashed a scorching effort that flew just wide of Martinez’s post.
Villa responded and created their best chance of the game through Ollie Watkins. The £28million striker found space inside the box and his shot, which took a slight deflection off Coady, forced Rui Patricio into a stunning save at his near post.
Fabio Silva’s big moment would soon arrive after excellent work from Podence to create it. Silva fired across Martinez but his shot cannoned back off the post.
Wolves then had a another chance to win it through Dendoncker. The Belgian was found via an outrageous rabona cross from Neto but Martinez produced an equally impressive save to keep it out.
Villa were reduced to 10 men with five minutes to go as Douglas Luiz clashed with Podence out wide. Despite Dean Smith’s fury, Mike Dean had no doubts and sent Douglas off for a second yellow card.
The game looked to be petering out but a clumsy challenge from Semedo allowed Villa substitute El Ghazi to nick it at the death.
John McGinn skinned Semedo and he tripped the Villa midfielder up deep into stoppage time. El Ghazi ruthlessly sent Patricio the wrong way from 12 yards.
There was still time for things to get worse for Wolves with Moutinho dismissed for a second yellow card in stoppage time.
Rui Patricio 7
Patricio had a relatively quiet game until he was forced into a stunning save by Watkins in the 66th minute.
The best goalkeepers don’t let their concentration levels dip and Patricio’s reactions were fantastic. He was denied a clean sheet by a poor piece of defending from Semedo.
Nelson Semedo 5
All eyes were on Semedo up against Grealish and while some of his defending was unorthodox at times, he kept Villa’s dangerman quiet.
Semedo was well on course for plaudits heading into stoppage time but an unforgivable rush of blood cost Wolves dearly.
Conor Coady 7
Coady covered Semedo well and was very solid at the back for Wolves. A huge improvement on his Liverpool performance.
Romain Saiss 7.5
Nuno dropped Willy Boly for the first time but his replacement was excellent for Wolves. Saiss was well positioned a couple of times to clear threatening Villa crosses and dominated in the air.
He was furious withe the late lapse and booted the post after El Ghazi had netted for Villa.
Marcal 7
The Brazilian handled Bertrand Traore easily and continues to show that he’s a solid option at left-back.
Leander Dendoncker 7
Dendoncker doubled up to help Semedo contend with Grealish and was very effective in midfield. He also had two of Wolves’ best chances, one of which Martinez saved brilliantly.
Joao Moutinho 7
The veteran has improved dramatically in recent weeks and he offered Wolves’ defence unlimited protection. Some of his free-kick deliveries were right on the money, but others weren’t.
A late second booking, which looked harsh as the contact on Jacob Ramsey was minimal, rules him out of the midweek meeting with Chelsea.
Adama Traore 6
Wolves had a clear game plan in the first half to get Traore in one-v-one situations with Matt Targett but, to Villa’s credit, they rarely managed it.
Spaces opened up after the break and Traore produced one of his trademark runs but ended it with a tame shot when there were better options.
Daniel Podence 8
The best player on the pitch. He offered the invention and creativity that everyone else lacked and was involved in all of Wolves’ good moments going forward.
Podence’s pass which led to Silva’s big chance was so simple, yet so sublime. He didn’t deserve to be on the losing team.
Pedro Neto 7
Neto produced the most outrageous piece of skill we’ve seen this season with a crossed rabona to create the game’s biggest chance. Unfortunately Dendoncker couldn’t beat Martinez with it.
The youngster had a good battle with Matty Cash and flashed a few inviting crosses into Villa’s six-yard box.
Fabio Silva 6
Silva couldn’t convert when his big chance arrived in the second half. He also missed a half chance on the stroke of half-time after connecting with a Moutinho delivery.
The 18-year-old grew into the game but Wolves are now seeing that Raul Jimenez is irreplaceable.
SUBS
Ruben Neves (for Dendoncker, 81) 5
Neves wasn’t able to have much of an influence as Wolves’ afternoon ended in frustration.
Not used: Ruddy, Boly, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, Vitinha, Otasowie
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