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Aston Villa 2-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ruben Neves secures dramatic comeback win

By Neil JohnstonBBC Sport
Ruben Neves scores Wolves' winners against Aston Villa at Villa Park
Wolves came from two goals down to win an away Premier League game for only the second time

Conor Coady says Wolves plan to use their extraordinary comeback win over Aston Villa as a springboard for the rest of the season.

Wolves looked down and out after goals by Danny Ings and John McGinn put Villa 2-0 ahead in the West Midlands derby at Villa Park.

In an incredible finish to the game, the visitors scored in the 80th, 85th and 95th minutes to seal an unlikely victory - and send their travelling fans wild.

"I could see my wife and the boys in the stand at the end going mental," said England defender Coady, who scored his side's second goal.

"It was a derby, so to win the way we have from 2-0 down is incredible. Honestly, it was emotional and tough."

He added: "Since the new manager came in we have improved. We were on the end of some bad results but there's loads to improve on."

Romain Saiss started the comeback when he scored from inside the six-yard area before Coady bundled in the equaliser soon after Max Kilman had headed against the bar.

Ruben Neves sparked jubilant scenes in the away end when his free-kick took a deflection on its way past Emiliano Martinez to secure a win that had looked improbable for long spells in the game.

Wolves are only the third team in Premier League history to score three goals from the 80th minute onwards to overturn a 2-0 deficit and win 3-2, after Reading in 2013 and Wigan in 2010.

Villa boss Dean Smith will be livid with some of his side's defending in the closing stages.

There was little sign of the drama to follow when Ings headed the home side ahead after McGinn beat Saiss to send in a cross.

The Scotland midfielder added the second with a deflected shot from long range after Ollie Watkins' attempt had been blocked.

Wolves' recovery began when Saiss struck from substitute Daniel Podence's cross, but an away win still looked a tall order at that stage.

There were five minutes of normal time left when Coady made it 2-2 after a scramble inside the box.

Neves' last-gasp winner left Villa to reflect on a first league home defeat since 9 May - and earned Bruno Lage the most dramatic win of his Wolves reign so far.

Wolves' Romain Saiss celebrates scoring for Wolves against Aston Villa
Romain Saiss began Wolves' incredible comeback win in the 80th minute
Wolves captain Conor Coady celebrates scoring for Wolves against Aston Villa
Captain Conor Coady made it 2-2 in the 85th minute
Ruben Neves celebrates scoring for Wolves at Aston Villa
Ruben Neves' winner was scored in the 95th minute

Wolves put faltering start behind them

After losing their first three league games, Wolves are now eighth in the table after eight games, and their faltering start to life under Lage - who replaced Nuno Espirito Santo this summer - is a distant memory.

Suddenly they are one of the form teams as they equalled the club record of three consecutive Premier League away wins, set last June, when the third victory was also at Villa Park.

While Villa will be upset with the way they threw this game away, Wolves showed great character to keep fighting to the end.

Aston Villa 2-3 Wolves: Today was very good for us - Lage

Their fourth win of the season was secured after in-form Raul Jimenez started on the bench.

Jimenez, who had scored one goal and assisted another two in the previous two league games, came off the bench in the 88th minute with the score 2-2.

After Jacob Ramsey had fouled Adama Traore just outside the box deep in stoppage time, Jimenez stood over the free-kick before moving away for Neves to seal the victory.

Villa left to pick up the pieces

Villa have impressed this season with wins over Newcastle and Everton - as well as a first victory in 12 years at Manchester United.

After going into the international break on the back of a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham, they now have to pick up the pieces from a damaging derby defeat.

Smith opted to start with keeper Martinez and midfielder Douglas Luiz - despite the fact they played for Argentina and Brazil respectively in the early hours of Friday morning UK time.

Both had rushed back to Birmingham after being involved in World Cup qualifiers.

Aston Villa 2-3 Wolves: It's a painful one to take - Dean Smith

Martinez did make one fine save to keep out Traore when the game was goalless, while Luiz went close in the first half with a long-range attempt.

But neither could save their side from slipping to defeat, and Villa must regroup before their next match, away at Arsenal on Friday.

Player of the match

Daniel PodenceDaniel Podence

with an average of 7.81

Aston Villa

  1. Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
    Average rating

    6.89

  2. Squad number20Player nameIngs
    Average rating

    6.09

  3. Squad number1Player nameE Martínez
    Average rating

    5.94

  4. Squad number10Player nameBuendía
    Average rating

    5.75

  5. Squad number2Player nameCash
    Average rating

    5.72

  6. Squad number11Player nameWatkins
    Average rating

    5.64

  7. Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
    Average rating

    5.54

  8. Squad number4Player nameKonsa
    Average rating

    5.54

  9. Squad number3Player nameTargett
    Average rating

    5.41

  10. Squad number5Player nameMings
    Average rating

    5.40

  11. Squad number16Player nameTuanzebe
    Average rating

    5.29

  12. Squad number19Player nameNakamba
    Average rating

    4.66

  13. Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
    Average rating

    4.40

  14. Squad number18Player nameYoung
    Average rating

    3.98

Wolverhampton Wanderers

  1. Squad number10Player nameDaniel Podence
    Average rating

    7.81

  2. Squad number8Player nameRúben Neves
    Average rating

    7.71

  3. Squad number9Player nameJiménez
    Average rating

    7.57

  4. Squad number16Player nameCoady
    Average rating

    7.37

  5. Squad number37Player nameTraoré
    Average rating

    7.01

  6. Squad number27Player nameSaïss
    Average rating

    6.99

  7. Squad number23Player nameKilman
    Average rating

    6.86

  8. Squad number1Player nameJosé Sá
    Average rating

    6.83

  9. Squad number17Player nameFábio Silva
    Average rating

    6.78

  10. Squad number26Player nameHwang Hee-chan
    Average rating

    6.70

  11. Squad number32Player nameDendoncker
    Average rating

    6.69

  12. Squad number28Player nameJoão Moutinho
    Average rating

    6.61

  13. Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
    Average rating

    6.59

  14. Squad number5Player nameMarçal
    Average rating

    6.25

Line-ups

Aston Villa

Formation 3-4-1-2

  • 1E Martínez
  • 4Konsa
  • 16Tuanzebe
  • 5MingsBooked at 61mins
  • 2CashSubstituted forYoungat 79'minutes
  • 7McGinn
  • 6Douglas LuizSubstituted forNakambaat 67'minutes
  • 3Targett
  • 10BuendíaSubstituted forJ Ramseyat 74'minutes
  • 20Ings
  • 11WatkinsBooked at 81mins

Substitutes

  • 8Sanson
  • 12Steer
  • 18Young
  • 19Nakamba
  • 21El Ghazi
  • 30Hause
  • 32Philogene-Bidace
  • 35Archer
  • 41J Ramsey

Wolves

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1
  • 23Kilman
  • 16CoadyBooked at 86mins
  • 27Saïss
  • 22Nélson Semedo
  • 8NevesBooked at 52mins
  • 28João MoutinhoSubstituted forFábio Silvaat 74'minutes
  • 5MarçalSubstituted forPodenceat 74'minutes
  • 32DendonckerBooked at 88mins
  • 37Traoré
  • 26Hwang Hee-chanSubstituted forJiménezat 88'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Hoever
  • 3Aït-Nouri
  • 9Jiménez
  • 10Podence
  • 13Moulden
  • 15Boly
  • 17Fábio Silva
  • 21Ruddy
  • 39Cundle
Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
41,951

Match Stats

Home TeamAston VillaAway TeamWolves
Possession
Home48%
Away52%
Shots
Home14
Away9
Shots on Target
Home5
Away4
Corners
Home6
Away7
Fouls
Home8
Away17

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Aston Villa 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Aston Villa 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  4. Post update

    Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  5. Goal!

    Goal! Aston Villa 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  6. Post update

    Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa).

  8. Post update

    Foul by Fábio Silva (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  9. Post update

    Axel Tuanzebe (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by John McGinn with a cross following a corner.

  11. Post update

    Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Rúben Neves.

  12. Post update

    Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Romain Saïss.

  13. Booking

    Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  15. Post update

    John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Raúl Jiménez replaces Hwang Hee-Chan.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Nélson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  18. Post update

    Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  19. Booking

    Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

  20. Goal!

    Goal! Aston Villa 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2. Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Leander Dendoncker following a corner.

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