Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a crucial victory against Aston Villa at Molineux Stadium, lifting themselves out of the relegation zone. Jean Ricner-Bellegarde opened the scoring early in the match, while Matheus Cunha added a second goal late on, ensuring a much-needed three points for the home side.
Bellegarde, making his 24th appearance this season, was a notable inclusion in a revamped Wolves line-up under manager Vitor Pereira. The midfielder made his mark just 12 minutes into the game, connecting with a well-placed through ball from Pablo Sarabia. He struck the ball into the near corner, giving Wolves an early lead and energising the home crowd.
Despite Villa's initial dominance, with new signing Andrés García posing threats down the right flank, Wolves capitalised on a swift counter-attack. Sarabia's precise pass to Bellegarde set the stage for an impressive finish, which even a fingertip from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could not prevent. The early goal revitalised Wolves, forcing Villa's Lucas Digne to clear several threatening crosses from Rayan Aït-Nouri.
Wolves had opportunities to extend their advantage, particularly through Gonçalo Guedes, who tested Martínez multiple times. However, Villa almost equalised when Donyell Malen found the net from close range, only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to disallow the goal, citing offside against Morgan Rogers. This decision sparked frustration among Villa supporters, who felt the ruling denied them a legitimate chance to level the score.
The match took a decisive turn when Cunha scored late in the game, firing a powerful shot past Martínez to secure the victory for Wolves. Aston Villa's form has been a cause for concern, as they have failed to win any of their last six matches, which included three home draws and three away losses. This ongoing struggle continued against a Wolves side in desperate need of points, having faced the prospect of a fifth consecutive defeat before kick-off.
Villa manager Unai Emery was compelled to make defensive changes following a draw with West Ham, a situation exacerbated by injuries within the squad. Boubacar Kamara, unusually deployed in central defence, nearly made a costly mistake in the 36th minute when he miscontrolled a pass meant for Cunha, allowing the Wolves forward to break free. Martínez was equal to the task, producing a strong save to deny Cunha, while Guedes missed a follow-up opportunity.
As the first half concluded, Cunha set up Guedes again, who was thwarted by Martínez just before the whistle. Villa's Malen appeared to have equalised shortly after coming on, but VAR was once again involved, ruling out the goal for offside.
In the dying moments of the match, Villa pressed for an equaliser, but Youri Tielemans squandered a chance, sending a volley into the stands from a corner. Cunha's late strike sealed the victory for Wolves, allowing them to leapfrog Leicester City in the Premier League standings.
Bellegarde's performance was pivotal throughout the match, particularly his goal that set the tone for Wolves’ success. While Sarabia's assist was noteworthy, it was Bellegarde's ability to finish from a difficult angle that highlighted his skill. His influence was further evident when he set up Guedes for a goal-scoring opportunity that unfortunately went begging.
This victory marks a significant turnaround for Wolves in their battle to maintain their Premier League status, as reported by VAVEL.com. Meanwhile, Aston Villa will need to regroup and address their ongoing struggles if they are to return to winning ways in the coming fixtures.