Wolves Vs Aston Villa

Aston Villa, one of the Premier League's top-four hopefuls, will make the relatively short journey to Molineux this Saturday to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in a crucial West Midlands derby. Both teams are desperate for points, but for very different reasons. Villa, flying high in the upper echelons of the table, are aiming to secure a place in the Champions League spots, while Wolves, mired in the relegation zone, are fighting for their survival in England’s top tier. This weekend's fixture marks the first meeting between the two sides since September 2024, when Unai Emery's Villa side triumphed 3-1 at Villa Park.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are enduring a challenging period, one that has seen their once-promising season unravel over the past month. The team’s form has been woeful since a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Molineux on Boxing Day 2024. In the five matches since, Wolves have collected just one point – a 2-2 draw away at Tottenham Hotspur. The remaining four fixtures, however, have been nothing short of disastrous, with Wolves suffering heavy defeats by an aggregate score of 10-1. These losses came against teams that, on paper, were all beatable. Wolves were humbled 1-0 by Nottingham Forest at home, suffered a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United, endured a 4-0 thrashing by Chelsea, and were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Arsenal last weekend in a match that saw a player from both teams sent off. Joao Gomes was dismissed just four minutes before Riccardo Calafiori’s goal sealed the win for the Gunners.

Wolves' head coach, Vitor Pereira, was understandably frustrated after the defeat to Arsenal, pointing out that his team had “lost a big chance to win” after the Gunners were reduced to 10 men for the entirety of the second half. The loss to Arsenal means that Wolves have now been defeated 15 times in the Premier League this season, and despite their struggles, they are still only one point away from safety, with 15 games remaining. While the relegation battle is intense, Wolves remain within reach of survival and will need to put an end to their disastrous run if they are to stay in the Premier League. 

The Old Gold have already endured one five-match losing streak under their former manager Gary O'Neil this season, and they will be desperate to avoid another such run. In fact, the only team in Premier League history to lose five consecutive games on two separate occasions under different managers and still avoid relegation are West Ham United, who managed to stay up in the 2006-07 season under both Alan Pardew and Alan Curbishley. Wolves are now faced with the challenge of turning around their fortunes, starting with the visit of Aston Villa this weekend.

The historical context of the fixture should offer Wolves some hope. The team has not been entirely hopeless against Villa in recent years, having won three and drawn one of their last five home meetings with the Lions. However, defensive improvements will be crucial if Wolves are to secure another positive result in this fixture. Only Southampton, who currently occupy the bottom spot in the table, have conceded more goals than Wolves, with the Old Gold having shipped 52 goals in just 23 games. Their average of 2.26 goals conceded per game is their worst defensive record in a league season since the 1932-33 campaign, where they conceded 96 goals in 42 games. This leaky defense has undermined their attempts to make a strong push for survival, and unless they can shore up their backline, Wolves may continue to struggle. 

In contrast, Aston Villa enter the fixture with an air of confidence. Unai Emery’s side has enjoyed a stellar season so far, and the club is in the midst of a European renaissance. Villa secured automatic qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in 41 years after a 4-2 victory over Celtic at Villa Park on Wednesday night. The standout performance came from Morgan Rogers, who scored his first-ever professional hat-trick. Rogers was instrumental in Villa’s win, scoring twice within the first five minutes of the match and completing his hat-trick after Celtic had mounted a fightback. Despite a brace from Celtic’s Adam Idah, Villa held firm to seal a top-eight finish in the 36-team Champions League standings, which ensures they will continue their European adventure into the knockout stages.

Emery was understandably pleased with the team’s performance after the Celtic match, describing it as a “fantastic” night under the lights at Villa Park. The victory was an important one for the club’s European aspirations, but Emery was also keen to praise the supporters and the overall performance of his team. Nevertheless, the manager's thoughts were also turned toward the future of some of his key players, particularly forwards Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins. Duran is reportedly set to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, while Watkins has been linked with a move to Arsenal. While Emery acknowledged the speculation surrounding his players, he emphasized the importance of focusing on the present and the challenges that lie ahead.

Aston Villa’s remarkable resurgence has seen them climb to eighth in the Premier League, just four points behind the coveted top-four spots. Following a dominant performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the season, where Villa secured a comfortable 3-1 win at home, Villa will be looking to complete their first league double over Wolves since the 2003-04 season. A win on Saturday would not only bolster their European hopes but also keep them within striking distance of the Premier League’s elite.

Under Emery, Villa have proven to be a formidable force, especially when leading at halftime. In the 25 Premier League matches where they have been ahead at the break, Villa have won 22 of them, a win rate of 88%. However, the team’s form in recent weeks has been a little less consistent. Villa have won just four of their last nine Premier League matches, drawing four and losing one, including a 1-1 draw against West Ham United last weekend. Despite this, Emery’s men have been resolute against teams in the relegation zone, having yet to lose to any team starting the day in the bottom three. Villa’s record of 13 wins and five draws from 18 such encounters under Emery is a testament to their resilience against struggling sides.

Aston Villa’s form is undoubtedly strong, but they are far from invincible, and Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping to catch them at the right time. While Wolves have struggled defensively, they are capable of producing unexpected results, as evidenced by their shock 2-0 win over Manchester United earlier in the season. If they can tighten up their defense and take advantage of any lapses in Villa's play, they may still have a chance to pull off a much-needed victory.

For Villa, the key to securing all three points will be maintaining their defensive solidity and taking their chances when they arise. With players like Morgan Rogers in top form and Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran still contributing effectively in the attack, Villa will look to continue their excellent form and build momentum toward the business end of the season. However, they will need to remain focused and avoid complacency, as any slip-up could allow their rivals to close the gap in the race for European football.

In conclusion, the West Midlands derby between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa promises to be an intriguing encounter, with both teams desperately in need of points for vastly different reasons. While Villa’s Champions League ambitions are within reach, Wolves are embroiled in a fierce battle for survival. The outcome of this fixture could have significant implications for both sides, and with the passionate Molineux crowd behind them, Wolves will be hoping for a much-needed win. However, Villa's recent form and quality should make them the favorites, and they will be determined to continue their push for a top-four finish.