Aston Villa 0-0 Wolves – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Ollie Watkins misses a glorious chance to put Unai Emery’s men ahead

BIG MISS! Ollie Watkins had to score!

A patient move for Villa resulted in Alex Moreno hooking a poor cross behind the goal and into the stand. The hosts have been pretty poor.

Wolves, on the other hand, look very well-drilled and up for this one.

The catch, of course, is that they have to score while on top.

It’s fair to say Gary O’Neil was fuming with Rayan Ait-Nouri’s miss.

A more comfortable save for Emi Martinez this time.

Pablo Sarabia looked to bend one into the top corner from the edge of the box, but his curling effort was easy pickings.

Pablo Sarabia has been shown the first yellow card of the evening.

Morgan Rogers broke away brilliantly through the heart of midfield and after beating several players, was fouled by Sarabia.

An open and shut case, that.

View from the press box – Joe Bernstein at Villa Park…

Nice moment in an otherwise quiet opening.

Tyrone Mings, who has been out with a long-term injury, is pictured on the big screen alongside John McGinn and there is widespread applause around Villa Park which brought a smile to his face.

BIG SAVE! Rayan Ait-Nouri simply HAD to score there.

Villa failed to deal with another cross from the far side and the ball eventually dropped to the wing-back at the far post.

He had just Emi Martinez to beat but seemed to hesitate for a second too long, allowing the goalkeeper to keep his weak effort out.

That’s a real surprise in light of his recent goalscoring heroics.

Jose Sa, sweeper keeper.

The stopper came rushing off his line to nod a dangerous long ball forward away and knew exactly where the boundaries of his box were.

If he had slightly mistimed that, he would have been in big trouble.

This has been a great watch so far. I’m really enjoying this.

Wolves have shown no fear in these early stages and are pressing Villa high up, looking to force turnovers and using the flanks well.

There is space in behind, though, which Villa could exploit, as they almost did before Ollie Watkins was caught narrowly offside.

A really good tactical battle.

Villa have the ball in the net – but it won’t count!

Ollie Watkins was threaded through on goal by Moussa Diaby and looked to have timed his run in behind to perfection.

His effort was smothered by Jose Sa before Douglas Luiz gobbled up the rebound and found the net courtesy of a big deflection.

The linesman’s flag was raised, however, after Watkins went too early.

Oooof. Just wide from the boot of Tommy Doyle.

Wolves have been on top the last couple of minutes and after Nelson Semedo’s volley was clattered away, they kept up the pressure.

A corner was cleared only as far as the waiting Doyle on the edge of the box, with his powerful effort flashing off target.

View from the press box – Joe Bernstein at Villa Park…

A proud moment for 18-year-old Wolves forward Leon Chiwome as he walks out of the tunnel for his Premier League debut.

He’ll be hoping his No 84 shirt is a good omen – it’s the same number worn by another young breakthrough star, Conor Bradley, who has done well this season at Liverpool.

A cracking atmosphere at Villa Park with fans knowing their team need at least a point to return to the top four after Tottenham’s earlier win.

This has been an entertaining start.

Alex Moreno looked to break down the left and deliver into the box down one end but his delivery was too strong and floated away.

At the other end, the ball was whipped in towards Leon Chiwome but the cross was too close to Emi Martinez, who collected.

End to end so far.

We’re underway at Villa Park!

Here come the teams! Let’s do this.

Tottenham’s 2-1 win against Luton in the 3pm games saw them edge ahead of Aston Villa and up into fourth place.

A point may be enough for Villa to move back into the Champions League spots, however, while three points would definitely do the job.

Wolves, meanwhile, are 10th, three points adrift of seventh place.

We’re set for a grandstand finish in the race for Europe!

Aston Villa were a real force on home territory for much of the season but their form here has crashed into the buffers.

Indeed, they have lost three of their last four home games, as many as in Unai Emery’s first 23 such games in charge.

Only Sheffield United have picked up fewer home points in 2024.

Out on the pitch, their players are wrapping up their warm-ups.

You just can’t beat this Bank Holiday weekend.

The sun is shining and the crowds have flocked to Villa Park for this one, with anticipation, excitement and nerves lingering in the air.

It’s a little crisp out there but a perfect evening for a kick around.

Will that translate into goals galore? We’ll find out soon enough!

What an international break it was for this man.

Youri Tielemans bagged twice for Belgium in their 2-2 draw with England and looked a real handful in midfield at Wembley.

He has been rewarded with a start this evening by Unai Emery and will look to put his up-and-down season with Villa to one side.

On his way, his passing range makes him a real menace. He’s also adept at late arrivals into the box, which Wolves have to track.

One surprise rumour during the international break linked Wolves boss Gary O’Neil with a coaching role at Manchester United.

O’Neil admitted it was an honour to be linked with the Red Devils but insisted he has no plans to take on less responsibility elsewhere.

Here’s what he had to say…

I love it here. I’m a head coach. I’m always going to be a head coach. I’m really enjoying my time at Wolves. I was only made aware of it by the media team.

What a job he’s doing at Molineux, by the way.

Unai Emery believes this is an opportunity and not pressure for Villa.

A massive evening for his side awaits.

Wolves are in the building ahead of this one.

It wasn’t a very long journey for them admittedly.

If anyone knows the exact distance between Molineux and Villa Park, please do let me know in the comments below!

I’m not lazy, I’m just bad at maths.

It’s just the one change for Wolves this evening.

Teenager Leon Chiwome starts on his Premier League debut in place of Nathan Fraser, another talented youngster.

Gary O’Neil’s squad remains gutted by injuries to key players including Pedro Neto, Hee-Chan Hwang and Matheus Cunha.

Villa have made two changes from the side that started their 1-1 draw with West Ham before the international break.

Diego Carlos and Moussa Diaby have been recalled by Unai Emery.

Clement Lenglet and Jhon Duran have dropped to the bench.

Wolves XI: Sa, Semedo, S. Bueno, Kilman, Toti, Ait-Nouri, Gomes, Lemina, Doyle, Sarabia, Chiwome

Substitutes: Bentley, Doherty, Traore, Lemina, H. Bueno, Holman, Barnett, Chirewa, Fraser

Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Moreno, Bailey, Tielemans, Luiz, Rogers, Diaby, Watkins

Substitutes: Olsen, Digne, Chambers, Lenglet, Zaniolo, Duran, Kesler-Hayden, Iroegbunam, Kellyman

Hello, all!

Welcome along to Mail Sport’s live coverage as Aston Villa host Wolves. It’s a very short trip across the Midlands for the visitors today.

Both these sides are eyeing up European football next season, with Villa in the Champions League race and Wolves sitting pretty in 10th.

It’s certainly tightening up nicely in the race for those coveted spots and this match could go a long way to deciding who will make it.

Let’s kick off with the team news…