Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Aston Villa: Premier League result as Cunha seals win to move Wolves out of relegation zone

Wolverhampton Wanderers moved out of the Premier League relegation zone thanks to a 2-0 win at Molineux over West Midlands rivals Aston Villa. 

The hosts opened the scoring after just 12 minutes as Jean-Ricner Bellegarde lashed home at the near post following a clever through-ball from Pablo Sarabia. 

Vitor Pereira’s men defended resolutely to keep the visitors out before Matheus Cunha scored a superb solo effort deep in stoppage time to seal the win.

Villa thought they had equalised shortly after the interval as substitute Donyell Malen tapped home following a clever free-kick routine but the goal was controversially ruled out for an infringement by Morgan Rogers, who was in an offside position. 

It was a thoroughly deserved three points for Wolves, though, who had a host of opportunities to double their lead before the break before putting in a cohesive defensive display in the second half.

Cunha and Goncalo Guedes were both denied by Emi Martinez in one-on-one situations, while Guedes dragged another chance wide from a similar position.

Following defeats for Leicester City and Ipswich Town earlier in the day, Wolves' first win in five league games moved them up to 17th, two points ahead of The Foxes and three ahead of Kieran McKenna's men.

It appeared to be more good news for Wolves at full-time as Cunha, who has been heavily linked with moves elsewhere this January, kissed and tapped the crest on his shirt in front of the fans. 

Unai Emery’s side, who once again appeared to be suffering a hangover from European exploits in midweek, struggled to create chances of note in what was a disappointing performance.

They came closest to levelling the tie when Leon Bailey’s effort from inside the box was blocked well by Emmanuel Agbadou before Malen was denied from close range by Jose Sa late on. 

Emery made four changes at the break after a lacklustre opening period but it did not have the desired effect as Villa remained in eighth and missed the chance to go within one point of the top four. 

His side will look to return to winning ways in the league in two weeks' time as they take on Ipswich at home, while Wolves travel to Anfield to take on league leaders Liverpool.

It is FA Cup fourth-round duties up next though for both teams, with Wolves travelling to Blackburn Rovers and Villa hosting Tottenham Hotspur.

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Speaking to Sky Sports, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said: "We tried. We started very well in the first 15 minutes but when they scored the goal it was more difficult to come back.

"We had more chances to score the second goal and in the second half we tried to push. We competed better but we had two chances to score and maybe if we score it is different. Over 90 minutes, we deserved more."

On Donyell Malen's disallowed goal, he said: "It is VAR's task. They watched it and told me. It was not offside because he did not touch the ball. But it is VAR's task. Even sometimes I think they are making mistakes."

Speaking to Sky Sports, Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa said: "We just weren't good enough today. Simple as that. Second half we performed better but we didn't have enough. We can make excuses about being fatigued but if we want to play Champions League we have to be prepared to play this much.

"This season, away from home, we have conceded early quite a lot and it is something we have to work on. Second half was better but it wasn't enough. We put pressure on but I don't think we troubled their back four or goalkeeper enough. We have to improve and we have to do it now."

On Donyell Malen's goal being ruled out, he said: "I thought it was a normal goal. It is gone now and nothing we can do."

On building for the future, Konsa said: "I think we have to stop conceding goals. I feel like we are conceding every game and me, being in the back line, I have to go back and look on it and change it."

Wolves defender Matt Doherty told Sky Sports: "We knew how important this was after four losses in a row. The teams around us lost today. We knew Villa had a lot of players missing. We knew it was a big opportunity and we took it.

"If you do the basics right the results will come. We did what the manager told us - we know we’re good enough to get points. Today was a good performance.

"[We had to do] a lot of defending. That’s the Premier League – you’re defending to the last minute. It's the best league in world, the hardest league in world. You have to be switched on for the whole game.

"We know how good Jose Sa is. He can make incredible saves you’d expect other 'keepers not to make.

"We hope so [it can be a springboard]. We know we’re good enough to beat anyone on our day. This is the type of win that can rally the whole club."

Wolverhampton Wanderers have moved out of the relegation zone thanks to their 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

Following defeats for Ipswich Town and Leicester City earlier on Saturday, Vitor Pereira's side have climbed up to 17th, two points ahead of The Foxes and three in front of Kieran McKenna's men.

Up next for Wolves in the Premier League is a trip to league leaders Liverpool.

As for Aston Villa, they missed the opportunity to go within one point of Manchester City and Newcastle United, in fourth and fifth.

Instead, they remain in eighth, three points shy of Chelsea and Bournemouth in sixth and seventh.

Unai Emery's side will look to return to winning ways in the league in two weeks' time as they take on Ipswich at home.

Both sides have FA Cup clashes before their next league outing, with Wolves travelling to Blackburn Rovers and Villa hosting Tottenham Hotspur.

FULL TIME: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2-0 ASTON VILLA

That goal was virtually the last kick of the game and Wolves have a hugely important three points. It was a brilliant performance from the hosts.

I said he was dangerous on the counter! Rogers is dispossessed by Bueno and Hwang is there to play a long ball forward looking for Cunha.

Konsa gets his head on to it but it carries on into the path of Cunha who looks in on goal.

Konsa and Kamara do well to get back and hold the striker up, but with the chance looking like it had gone, Cunha shifts the ball on to his right foot and rifles home into the bottom left corner.

Bailey goes down clutching his back but is dragged to his feet by McGinn. He doesn't seem to happy with that help from his team-mate.

The winger has the ball in the right of the box a couple of moments later but Toti puts in an excellent sliding box and does even better to prevent the corner.

Villa win the corner down their right but Sa is really strong in the box to punch clear before Tielemans' volley on his weaker foot goes way, way over to huge cheers from the home faithful.

It's backs against the wall for Wolves now but they only have a few more minutes now to remain solid.

There are groans from Molineux as their side have a rare moment of possession but Toti just gifts it straight back with a lazy swing forward.

Wolves make another change and it's Bueno to come on for goalscorer Bellegarde, who has had a brilliant game.

It's one of Villa's best chances of the game as Tielemans slips Malen into the left of the box but Sa spreads himself well to keep the substitute out.

There will be seven minutes added on here.

Villa finally muster a meaningful effort on goal as Maatsen nips it through to Malon, who takes aim from the edge of the box, but his well-hit effort is at a nice height for Sa to parry away, before the flag is up against Maatsen to bring the move to an end.

Nedeljkovic comes on for Bogarde for the visitors. Will they find a late breakthrough?

Cunha looks to drag Wolves over halfway as he takes on about four Villa defenders, but after doing pretty well initially, Konsa gets back to make the challenge and win the foul.

Sarabia, who had been involved in the previous substitution confusion, does now come off in place of Hwang.

Wolves, who remain dangerous through Cunha on the counter, are starting to drop really deep now with their other 10 players sitting well inside their own half.

Bellegarde plays a sumptuous back-heel to set Cunha free at the Villa defence and after the striker is held up, Wolves' goalscorer is straight in to pinch it and win the free-kick on the edge of the box.

It's Cunha on free-kick duties and his curling effort whistles just wide of the top left corner.

Semedo's run inside, in behind the defence, is picked out by a long ball forward and he looks to be in on goal, but Villa recover well and the flag was up anyway.

There is a bit of confusion as Wolves look to make a couple of changes. Guedes makes his way off the field but I think the officials haven't noticed and neither of the substitutes are allowed to come on.

But eventually, after three minutes of confusion, Guedes and Ait-Nouri are replaced by Rodrigo Gomes and Doyle.

Rogers is fed into the left of the box and looks to go on the outside of Doherty but the Wolves man sticks to his task well to block the cross into the box.

McGinn slips after Villa took the corner short and Wolves have the chance to counter. Sarabia cuts in and looks to float a ball to Cunha at the back post but he can't quite get his toe on it.

Maatsen is played into the left of Villa's box and cuts the ball back nicely to Bailey coming in from the right. The winger looks to sweep home into the bottom left corner but Agbadou puts in a crucial block.

Villa then have another free-kick and once again play the pass into the left of the box. It's worked to Rogers on the edge but his shot is blocked before he brings down Cunha. He will have to be careful, already on a booking.

Bogarde is tripped by Bellegarde and Wolves have a free-kick in a promising position down their left.

Cunha swings the ball in and as Toti looks to get the ball under control he goes down under the challenge of Malen.

There is a VAR check but Malen was judged to have got enough contact on the ball. Another close call but probably the correct one.