Wolves 2-1 Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins bagged a late penalty but Aston Villa suffered a 2-1 defeat to midlands neighbours Wolves at Molineux.

Watkins gave Villa hope of a late comeback when he slotted home his spot-kick off the inside of a post in the 86^th minute having been upended by Jose Sa.

But, with Matty Cash thwarted in injury time, it was Wolves who ran out victors to claim the spoils in the derby encounter.

The visitors fell behind to Jonny’s seventh-minute strike before an unfortunate own goal from substitute Ashley Young doubled the home side’s advantage before the break.

Leon Bailey, Philippe Coutinho and Watkins all drew impressive saves from Sa while the latter sent an effort agonisingly wide having been played clean through, but it was Wolves who triumphed.

Steven Gerrard’s side will now strive to return to winning ways when Tottenham Hotspur are the visitors to Villa Park next Saturday.

Villa showed three changes for the encounter as Lucas Digne, Morgan Sanson and Bailey all returned to Gerrard’s line-up following defeat to Arsenal last time out prior to the international period.

Eighth place played host to ninth in the Premier League as Villa looked to record consecutive wins at Molineux for the first time since 2012, having triumphed 1-0 in last season’s meeting.

But it was the hosts who established an early lead as first John McGinn and then Ezri Konsa slipped at crucial moments in Wolves’ build-up, leading to a goalmouth scramble which saw McGinn and Digne block superbly before Jonny slammed home.

Emi Martínez saved well from Fabio Silva as Wanderers threatened a quickfire second.

And matters went from bad to worse for Villa in the 13^th minute as fit-again Digne, who missed the loss against the Gunners but returned for France in midweek, hobbled off due to injury, replaced by Young.

Coutinho sent a long-range free-kick over the crossbar midway through the first half, before Bailey’s 20-yard strike was tipped over by Sa.

Yet, just as Villa looked most likely to threaten a leveller, they fell 2-0 behind in the 36^th minute, Marcal’s left-wing cross headed into his own goal off the underside of the crossbar by Young.

Martinez parried away Francisco Trincao’s effort from distance as Wolves ended the first period in control.

Villa created an ideal opportunity to get back into the encounter in the 56^th minute, Young’s long ball over the top sending Watkins clear, but his right-footed finish went narrowly the wrong side of the far post.

The visitors were dominating possession but struggling to find their way through a stubborn Wolves defence as they looked for a route back into the game, with the home side content to try and catch Villa on the counter-attack.

Substitute Hee Chan Hwang sent a left-footed strike wide in the 71^st minute, before Gerrard turned to Douglas Luiz off the bench.

Coutinho forced a superb one-handed save from Sa as the Villans continued to push, before Martínez did likewise to deny Silva at the other end.

But Villa got the lifeline they deserved late on as Watkins picked himself up to slot home from the penalty spot.

However, it was not enough to claim a point, Cash denied in injury time as Wanderers took all three points.