Aston Villa 2-0 Wolves: Moussa Diaby & Ezri Konsa rating as hosts preserve top-four hole

Aston Villa maintained their three-point lead over Tottenham within the race for Champions League soccer with a win over Wolves at Villa Park.

Moussa Diaby’s thunderbolt shot from the sting of the realm, after a cross was half-cleared by Tommy Doyle, fizzed by means of a few Wolves defenders and goalkeeper Jose Sa to open the scoring.

Ezri Konsa sealed the factors when his miscued cross from near the appropriate byeline drifted over Sa and in off the far submit.

There was concern for Villa, although, with England striker Ollie Watkins withdrawn at half-time due to a hamstring damage and supervisor Emery mentioned he would go for a scan on Sunday.

Tottenham have a sport in hand on Villa and will but take management of the race for fourth, however fifth spot could safe top-tier European soccer subsequent season with the revamped event being launched.

Villa discover a approach in opposition to uncovered Wolves

Villa, who’ve now gained as many Premier League video games as they managed within the entirety of final season, had been nowhere close to their peak type.

Nevertheless, outcomes are key at this stage of the season and there could must be extra days like this.

They began slowly and missed the power of the suspended John McGinn in midfield all through.

Watkins had an early purpose dominated out for offside, earlier than Wolves wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri missed a gilt-edge likelihood.

A cross from the appropriate was flicked into the unmarked Algerian by a Villa defender, however his strike from six yards was turned over the bar by Emi Martinez.

Wolves continued to dominate possession however had been hampered. The absence of key ahead gamers Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha meant there was an absence of high quality and creativity within the ultimate third.

Diaby’s opener got here nearly out of the blue, stemming from a central free-kick chipped over to Alex Moreno on the left. His cross got here off the outstretched leg of Doyle for Diaby to fireside house first time.

Wolves supervisor Gary O’Neil could query his defenders, who had been static and made no actual try to dam the shot.

Konsa’s purpose was extraordinarily fortuitous on the finish of a free-flowing transfer, however come the season’s finish on 19 Could he and Villa could effectively look again on this as a key day.

Wolves, who had only one shot on course within the second half, have now misplaced three of their previous 4 video games in all competitions with their squad depth once more being uncovered on the highest degree.