Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves boss Rob Edwards, speaking to Sky Sports: "Really proud. nights like this are why I came here - to connect with the supporters like that. I know we are in a difficult position, but I love football like that - it's brilliant.

"We were really committed. We didn't get everything right in the first half, but Aston Villa are good and clever - they can manipulate you and make it difficult to press.

"Second half was excellent. We really grew into the game and were really good against a brilliant team. You have to be good to get a result against them."

On the changes he made at half-time: "We pressed slightly differently [in the second half] asked Adam to do the two centre-backs, and JJ and Mane on the two pivots, because it was difficult to get pressure on the two centre-backs and Onana and Luiz.

"We thought there would be lots of opportunities for us on transition as there were moments we didn't take advantage of in the first half. I'm pleased we were ruthless when we needed to be."

Watch more from Edwards in the video above or listen on BBC Sounds here

Wolves striker Adam Armstrong, speaking to Sky Sports: "It has been brilliant coming into this side. I knew the circumstances before I came in and I can't thank the team enough for the praise that I have been given.

"Performances like that are why we play football. We know where we are in the league, but a game like that, in a derby, is massive."

On their upcoming fixtures: "We have to take every game as it comes and keep putting in performances. We will work hard every week."

On Edwards: "He is brilliant and we work hard as a team. A night like tonight is amazing."

Did you know?

• After an 11-match winless run at home in the Premier League between May and December 2025 in which they picked up just two points, Wolves have earned eight in their past six games at Molineux in the competition.

• Armstrong has provided as many assists in the Premier League since joining Wolves (two in five games) as he managed in his previous 48 appearances in the competition while playing for Southampton.

• This was only the second time Wolves have won a Premier League game 2-0 with goals coming from their only two shots on target (also against Manchester City in October 2019).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Wolves' performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back on Saturday for a selection of your replies

Toti Gomes and Joao Gomes start for Wolves as boss Rob Edwards makes two changes.

Ladislav Krejci is suspended after his red card in the late 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace while striker Tolu Arokodare drops to the bench, having missed a penalty at Selhurst Park.

Wolves XI: Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, S Bueno, Toti, H Bueno, Andre, Bellegarde, J Gomes, Mane, Armstrong.

Subs: Johnstone, Doherty, Wolfe, Arokodare, Lima, R Gomes, A Gomes, Edoze, Olagunju.

Ollie Watkins gets the nod to start up front for Aston Villa ahead of Tammy Abraham.

The England striker has one goal in his last 10 games, while Abraham has netted two in his last two games since his January arrival from Besiktas.

Pau Torres and Lucas Digne return in defence while Jadon Sancho replaces Leon Bailey from the 1-1 draw with Leeds.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Luiz, Sancho, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Maatsen, Mings, Bogarde, Barkley, Bailey, Abraham, Alysson.

Former Walsall midfielder Darren Wrack is Friday's West Midlands football legend, joining Daz Hale in the studio.

The show runs from 18:00-19:00 GMT and you can listen again on BBC Sounds afterwards - find all episodes here.

And get involved by calling 08081 009956 - or text 81333, starting your message with WM.

Watch here

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Friday night's West Midlands derby between bottom-of-the-table Wolves and third-placed Aston Villa is unlikely to be the mismatch which those respective league positions suggest.

The hosts can take confidence from holding league leaders Arsenal to a draw in the previous game at Molineux, as well as the fact this fixture – against out-of-sorts neighbours – has brought them unrivalled success at home in recent years.

Wolves' favourite fixture

Wolves have suffered 20 league defeats after 28 games of a season for the first time in their history as a result of Crystal Palace's last-minute winner last weekend by Evann Guessand, a player on loan from Aston Villa.

It leaves Wolves a point adrift of the Premier League's all-time lowest tally of 11 in a season, set by Derby County in 2007-08.

Unlike that Derby side, who "threw the towel in" according to then player Andy Todd, Wolves aren't going down with a whimper. Eight of their 10 points this season have been earned over the past 10 matches, with their four defeats during that period only one more than Villa.

No home fixture has been as fruitful for Wolves in recent years than this one, either. They've taken 19 points from the past eight Premier League and Championship meetings with Aston Villa at Molineux, with their only defeat during that period coming during a Covid-19 lockdown in December 2020. Wolves haven't lost at home to Villa with fans in attendance since 2012.

Can Abraham lift Villa?

Aston Villa's poor record at Molineux, allied to their recent sharp dip in performances, has added to the jeopardy for the visitors as they seek a first ever Premier League away win on a Friday night - their record so far is two draws and four defeats.

Ending that barren streak would give Unai Emery a 100th Villa victory in 179 games, the quickest of any manager to reach that milestone with the club. More importantly, it would ensure Villa stay ahead of the teams chasing them down. After Friday, they have successive league matches against two of those sides: Chelsea and Manchester United.

While Villa are holding up defensively, conceding just four goals during their current run of two wins in seven top-flight fixtures, they've only scored five times across that period. Three of those have come after the 85th minute, most recently from Tammy Abraham to earn a point at home to Leeds last Saturday.

The £18.25m January signing has scored in successive games with his only two shots on target but awaits a first league start since facing Brentford at the beginning of the month, when his would-be equaliser was controversially ruled out by VAR.

With Villa struggling in front of goal, Emery could do worse than pay heed to Abraham's record versus Wolves – he has scored six times in his three starts against them, latterly a Premier League hat-trick for Chelsea in September 2019.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves manager Rob Edwards and Sunderland counterpart Regis le Bris have condemned the racist abuse their players suffered last weekend.

Nigeria striker Tolu Arokodare, 25, received abusive messages on social media after he was part of a Wolves side beaten 1-0 at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

"[It's been a] really difficult week for him [Arokodare]," said Edwards. "He was upset and angered by it, understandably so.

"We have supported him, and we have had a few individual chats with him. We have spoken about it as a group to make sure we get around him and support him as well."

Sunderland's English winger Mundle, 22, was also targeted with online racist abuse following his substitute appearance in Sunday's 3-1 home defeat by Fulham.

"What happened to Romaine is unacceptable - we stand with him," said Le Bris.

"There is no room for racism or abuse in football or anywhere else. That's clear for us. We stand for respect, inclusion and diversity - these are the values of football and the values of the club."

Read more here

I keep hearing people say that, mathematically, Wolves still have a chance of staying up, but let me just tell them straight - there is no chance of that happening.

There is no doubt Wolves have improved under Rob Edwards, but this is still a game I'd expect Aston Villa to win.

Unai Emery's side have slipped up a few times in recent weeks, however, and it has cost them.

They have only won one of their past four league games and I am a bit gutted they haven't managed a couple more wins to really be in the title race.

Emery has always talked down their title hopes anyhow, and I understand why - he obviously doesn't truly believe they can do it - but until this blip in form they were in with a real shout.

I still think they will have too much for Wolves, but they are going to have to work hard for the points. Villa won 1-0 at Villa Park earlier in the season, so I am going for the same scoreline here.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Liverpool and Manchester United will not pay Wolves' £50m asking price for 18-year-old England youth international Mateus Mane this summer as they consider the midfielder too raw. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

George Booth
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Molineux (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Edwards confirmed there were no new injury concerns and that both Angel Gomes and Joao Gomes are fit and "in a good place at the moment".

• Edwards said there was "a lot to like about the performance" against Crystal Palace, a game they lost 1-0, adding: "I was equally frustrated after the game as we should have taken something from it. It was frustrating being a yard away from stopping the goal happening and making something of it. There was emotion and anger after the game."

• The Wolves boss confirmed he had seen a positive reaction in training after the Palace loss. Edwards said: "We flipped it the next day and that shows that people care. The dressing room was interesting after the game. There is not a frustration that lingers which is causing any sort of problem. We have an exciting week, and we're at home to try to get some results as well."

• On facing Aston Villa, who are currently placed third in the Premier League, Edwards said: "Villa are obviously a brilliant team and an amazing manager [Unai Emery]. They have a clear way of playing – we sort of know big, big elements of what we need to do to make sure we are competitive in the game. It needs to look like it matters to us. Villa are a team which can win a game in many different ways."

• On the supporters galvanising the team: "The supporters have been amazing considering how difficult it has been. I know the players have got to produce, but what I want as well is for the supporters to keep backing the team. We need to bring our best, and I know the supporters will be right behind the lads."

• On Mateus Mane being approached by Portugal to play for them over England: "He has got to be able to follow his heart. But again, I will support whatever he chooses to do. His main focus, and he knows this, needs to be here."

• On how Tolu Arokodare is coping after being racially abused on social media: "He is alright, and he has trained this week. He has trained, so he is fit and in a good state to play. Our supporters can have an influence and get behind him and show that love for singing for him."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to Edwards on BBC Sounds

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Dean Richards, who died exactly 15 years ago today, was a 20-year-old centre-back on the radar of several top clubs when Wolves made their move to sign him from third-tier Bradford City. An initial loan deal became a club-record £1.85m transfer in the summer of 1995.

A four-year spell at Molineux was affected by injuries but also contained plenty of evidence which demonstrated why he was rated so highly.

He earned rave reviews for his performance in stifling Teddy Sheringham and his Tottenham team-mates during an FA Cup tie on a snowy day at White Hart Lane in 1996.

A year later, he etched his name into Wolves' folklore with a bullet header to open the scoring in the Black Country derby victory against West Bromwich Albion.

And he played regularly in Wolves' run to the FA Cup semi-final in 1998, with eventual double winners Arsenal ending their hopes of appearing in a Wembley final.

Commanding in defence and cultured on the ball, Richards always seemed destined for the Premier League. Unfortunately for Wolves fans, it would not be with Wanderers, whose promotion dreams were not fulfilled until four years after Richards had departed.

His final appearance for Wolves came in a home defeat by his first club Bradford, who clinched promotion to the top flight with their victory at Molineux.

In 1999, he joined Premier League side Southampton on a Bosman free transfer and moved to Spurs for more than £8m two years later, before his career came to a premature end because of ill health.

Many former Wolves players have shared their fond memories of Richards since his death in 2011.

Speaking to the Express and Star, external in 2021, Matt Murray described him as a "diamond of a person", while Don Goodman said: "If I was going to pick an 11 of team-mates from my career, without hesitation Dean Richards would be in there as one of my two centre-halves."

Image source, Getty Images

Thursday marks the 15-year anniversary of the death of former Wolves, Southampton and Tottenham defender Dean Richards.

Richards died on 26 February, 2011, aged 36, following a long illness. He had been forced to retire six years earlier because of ill health.

Richards, a cultured centre-back, began his career with his hometown club Bradford City before joining Wolves for a club-record fee in 1995.

After a four-year spell at Molineux, he moved to Southampton in 1999 and then Spurs in 2001.

A week after his death, Wolves and Tottenham met in a Premier League fixture at Molineux.

His widow and two sons, as well as representatives from his four former clubs, were present as the football world paid tribute to a player affectionately known as "Deano".

Image source, Corbis via Getty Images

Sunderland's hopes of signing Algerian midfielder Yacine Titraoui from Belgian side Charleroi have received a boost as the 22-year-old's representatives are reluctant to sanction a move to Premier League rivals Wolves because of the likelihood of the club being relegated. (Sunderland Echo), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It will be a few weeks yet before the most dreaded label in football – (R) – will be appended to Wolves' name in the Premier League table, but the feeling that the credits have begun to roll on this season was hard to shake after Sunday at Selhurst.

They did a lot of things better than Crystal Palace, had a discernible plan both with 11 men and with 10, but failed in the most important moments, so lost.

So what? Wolves fans have seen this movie before, many times. Losing the game rather than taking a least a point cannot be said to make any significant difference to the outcome of this season.

These games do make a difference, though, far beyond deciding on which date relegation becomes mathematically certain. The anger of last autumn may have subsided somewhat, and there have been surges of excitement, like in the final moments against Arsenal. It is better. But each failure to win still saps the hope fans feel for the future.

With only one win in the 17 Premier League games since Rob Edwards replaced Vitor Pereira, the calls to BBC Radio WM from fans thinking it might be time to change again have started to re-emerge.

"I think there's a split in the camp," said former Wolves winger Steve Froggatt on Tuesday's WM Phone-In, assessing the feelings of the fanbase.

However, Froggatt believes Wolves are unlikely to heed the calls to replace another coach: "They're not going to get rid of him. The reality is, they've set it in. Matt Jackson, who I know, knows his football. [Edwards] is cemented into that position for next season. They know they're going down. He's been put there to get them out of the Championship, and they'll do whatever is necessary to put a team together to do that. So nothing's going to change."

Wolves are keenly aware that supporters are, understandably, disillusioned. The only way to ease that tension, though, and create a more hopeful atmosphere, which would help next season, will be to win a few games.

For that reason, even if many of the players involved may end up moving on before August, the remaining league and cup games this season really do matter.

When you're bottom of the league, all the fixtures look tough, but any victories will be valuable, even though far too late to change this season's outcome.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Aston Villa at 20:00 GMT on Friday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM/DAB/Freeview 714]

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds

Emma Milton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves did not lose at Crystal Palace because of being outclassed. We lost because we failed in the moments that decide Premier League games. That is why Wolves need to stop talking about "fine margins" and start fixing them.

For 40 minutes, Wolves looked like a team with a plan. The press was organised, we carried the ball well and we created enough to make Selhurst Park nervous.

Then the match handed us a lifeline. A penalty just before half-time. This is the point where bottom clubs have to be ruthless. Instead, we made it easy. Dean Henderson saved, and the momentum swung.

People will say "it is just one kick", but it is not. It is a pattern. Wolves can do a lot right, then one action turns a decent performance into another defeat. If you are bottom of the table, you do not get to waste gifts.

Then came the red card. Two quick yellows and suddenly we were trying to manage the game with ten men. That is not bad luck. That is discipline, and discipline is a choice.

That said, the officiating discussion will not go away. Will Hughes looked fortunate to still be on the pitch after a couple of challenges that, on another day, could have brought a second yellow. In comparison, Ladislav Krejci's second booking felt harsh. But the honest truth is you cannot give referees an excuse to make a decision. It is a silly mistake, even if the standard felt inconsistent.

After the red, Wolves actually defended the box fairly well. The job became simple: stay compact, slow the game and get out with a point. But the margins shrink with 10 men. We nearly did it. Nearly is not enough.

The late winner at the near post was the final punishment for dropping a yard and switching off for a second. Late goals happen when focus drops, legs tire and belief is fragile.

The frustrating part is this: there is a team here. Wolves played well enough to get something, yet confidence and composure are missing.

Find more from Emma Milton at Always Wolves, external

Wolves, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are among the clubs interested in signing Scotland left-back Andy Robertson, should the 31-year-old leave Liverpool this summer. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Palace fans

Adrian: Another woeful performance I'm afraid. This team is a shadow of the one that played before Christmas. Whether or not it's Glasner's impending departure that's having an effect I don't know, but what I see is a disjointed team: no fluidity, no composure, no ideas and playing at a snail's pace. So far, Johnson is a huge disappointment, Pino likewise, with Canvot and Riad - despite no little potential - needing to stop committing unnecessary fouls. Personally I have written off the rest of this season.

Steve: A win is a win, but Palace were dreadful; shapeless and without any structure. Their one decent move produced the winning goal. Continue to perform like this, and it is difficult to see where the next win will come from. Time for Glasner to go in spite of this fortunate win. However, I fear he will be given a reprieve.

Rich: Hardly inspiring performance but a good shift put in by all the players, five more points and then a reset with a manager that wants to be in charge of a team with real potential - with the right leadership - we can go forward. But, who ever comes in needs to be realistic about our financial capabilities - I think OG was in dream land if he thought a midtable team like Palace with midtable funds could challenge the likes of Man City with their never ending pots of gold.

Ron: Glasner has completely lost it. Pino was hopeless and yet he was kept on for over seventy minutes. We were all shouting for Guessand to come on and at last he did and scored. This squad has no clue how to play forward. We are fed up with the boring play and the boring attitude of this team. Let's get a new manager in now and finish the season off with a bit of pride.

Wolves fans

Norman: Was expecting a much better performance after the game against arsenal but we just don't know how to win a game. Why on earth Tolu took the penalty is beyond me, he can't hit a barn door. What could have been had we gone into half time 1-0 up.

Tony: Wolves looked the better side for a time but both sides looked flat. As for our penalty, I think that I could have done better and I am 85 years old and have supported since 1949, come on boys wake up!

Mike: An even, entertaining game with both sides having chances was spoiled by a poor decision by the referee. If anyone deserved a second yellow card it was Will Hughes for 2 poor challenges, both of which could have caused an injury to his opponent, but he was allowed to get away with a 'don't do it again' from the referee. Krejci was shown his second yellow card for kicking the ball away a split second after the whistle went, there is no logic to the decisions. Wolves defended well with only 10 men and deserved a point from the game. Tolu should have scored the penalty but his effort was more like a back pass to the keeper.

Tony: In curling, when it's obvious a side can't win they shake hands and call it a day. I wish Wolves could do the same with this season after spurning a penalty chance of a goal, then recklessly collecting a red card.

Pundits Danny Murphy and Shay Given join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Sunderland 1-3 Fulham

• Crystal Palace 1-0 Wolves

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool

• Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal

Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Despite the result, Wolves manager Rob Edwards should be happier with his side's performance as they were the more competitive side before Ladislav Krejci's red card on 61 minutes - and frustrated Crystal Palace after it.

While Palace had marginally more possession in the first half, Wolves spent more time in the home side's final third, with Mateus Mane and Andre providing a spark in midfield.

They had more efforts on goal too, and it felt like a goal was coming when they earned their penalty on 41 minutes.

Yerson Mosquera intercepted a Palace pass in their own half and although he was fouled, referee Thomas Kirk did well to wave play on and moments later Mane was brought down in the box by Adam Wharton.

Tolu Arokodare's side-footed spot-kick was easy for Henderson to save low to his left, though, and was the Nigeria striker's fifth straight penalty miss, a run stretching back to September 2022.

The visitors' five shots on target in the opening 45 minutes are the most they have registered in the first half of a Premier League game since last April.

It was only Krejci's dismissal that forced them onto the defensive for most of the second half, and they actually had the home side hanging on during the nine minutes of stoppage time.

Palace's late winner prevented Wolves reaching 11 points, which would have put them level with Derby's record for the fewest points in a Premier League season, but after avoiding defeat in their previous three games, it is surely just a matter of time before Edwards' side avoid that ignominy.