Wolverhampton Wanderers pulled off a huge Premier League upset on Friday night, beating Aston Villa 2-0 at a soaked Molineux Stadium. With heavy rain falling throughout this West Midlands derby, the league’s bottom club grabbed just their second win of the 2025-26 season, while Aston Villa left with a damaging result in their push for Champions League football.
Because of the three points, Wolves climbed to 13 points and moved past Derby County’s record-low 11-point tally from 2007-08. Villa came into the match sitting third, yet they paid for sloppy moments at the back and wasteful finishing. They saw plenty of the ball, but they did not make it count.
Match recap: The key moments at Molineux – Watch the Highlights
- First half: The game started tight and scrappy, and the slick pitch did not help. Villa kept more possession, but they struggled to open Wolves up. Meanwhile, Wolves stayed compact and looked most dangerous on quick breaks. The score stayed 0-0 at the break.
- 61st minute, João Gomes makes it 1-0: Wolves struck with a sharp move down the right. Jackson Tchatchoua swung in a cross, and Adam Armstrong guided the ball into João Gomes’ path. From about 15 yards, the Brazilian hit a fierce shot that crashed off the underside of the crossbar and in. Emiliano Martínez could not get close. It was Gomes’ first Premier League goal of the season, and it changed the mood inside Molineux.
- Late pressure from Villa: Villa pushed hard to respond, and they came close late on. Amadou Onana had an effort cleared off the line as Wolves held their shape and waited for another counter chance.
- 90+8th minute, Rodrigo Gomes seals it at 2-0: With Villa committing bodies forward, Wolves broke again. After a Villa attack broke down, substitute Rodrigo Gomes snapped up a loose ball and joined a three-on-two break. Inside the box, he turned and drove a low finish past Martínez to wrap up the win in stoppage time. The home crowd erupted, and manager Rob Edwards celebrated on the touchline.
Overall, Wolves did not create a long list of chances, but they took the ones that mattered. Villa controlled long spells, yet they could not break Wolves down when it counted.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Team and performance table
Wolves set up to defend first, then attack quickly through wide areas and transitions.
| Position | Player | Key contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | José Sá | Safe handling in tough conditions | Made important late saves |
| Defense | Jackson Tchatchoua | Assist for the opener, strong on the right | Delivered quality crosses |
| Defense | Yerson Mosquera | Strong defending, key late block | Stayed calm under pressure |
| Defense | Santiago Bueno | Solid at the back | |
| Defense | Toti | Won aerial battles | |
| Defense | Hugo Bueno | Kept his side secure | |
| Midfield | André | Came off late (sub: Angel Gomes) | Steady shift |
| Midfield | João Gomes | Goal (61′), top display | Struck from a distance |
| Midfield | Matheus Bellegarde | Energy and movement, subbed (Arokodare 81′) | Kept Villa busy |
| Forward | Hwang Hee-chan (or Mané) | Helped in the build-up | Based on reports |
| Forward | Adam Armstrong | Smart layoff for the first goal | Great first touch |
| Substitutes | Rodrigo Gomes | Goal (90+8′), match-turning impact | Late finisher |
Aston Villa: Team and performance table
Unai Emery’s side saw a lot of possession, but their final pass and finishing let them down.
| Position | Player | Key contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Emiliano Martínez | Could not stop either goal | Used the ball well |
| Defense | Various (e.g., Konsa, Torres) | Struggled with balls into the box | Looked exposed wide |
| Midfield | Amadou Onana | Late effort cleared off the line | Added power in midfield |
| Midfield | Ross Barkley (sub) | Came on, then got nutmegged in the move before the second | Could not change the game |
| Forward | Ollie Watkins (assumed) | Limited chances | Quiet night |
| Key subs | Failed to swing momentum | Wolves stayed organized |
Post-match reaction and what it means
After the match, Rob Edwards praised his side’s fight and joked about his touchline celebrations: “The two games we’ve won in the league this year, both managers have disappeared from the touchline.” The win lifts Wolves’ belief as they battle to climb away from trouble.
For Aston Villa, the defeat slows their top-four push. Unai Emery pointed out that the race is still open, saying, “It is still in our hands,” but Villa will feel they let this one get away.
On a wet night at Molineux, this West Midlands derby turned into one of the standout underdog results of the Premier League 2025-26 season.
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