Villa Climb Back Into Top Four With Hard-Fought Derby Win
Aston Villa returned to the Premier League's top four after securing their eighth consecutive home victory with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. The crucial moment arrived in the 67th minute when French midfielder Boubacar Kamara unleashed an unstoppable left-footed strike from outside the box that flew into the top corner, settling a tense encounter at Villa Park.
Martinez Heroics and VAR Drama Define Match
The home side survived several scares before Kamara's intervention, largely thanks to their Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martinez producing multiple crucial saves. Wolves thought they had taken the lead in the 17th minute when Jørgen Strand Larsen turned the ball past Martinez, but the effort was ruled out for offside with Jhon Arias deemed to be obstructing the goalkeeper's view.
Martinez later produced a spectacular stop to deny Yerson Mosquera's powerful header from a corner, preserving the deadlock before halftime. The second half saw further controversy when VAR intervened to review a challenge by Wolves' Arias on goalscorer Kamara, though the officials ultimately deemed the tackle reckless rather than serious foul play, resulting in only a yellow card.
Emery's European Specialists Continue Impressive Run
Under Unai Emery's guidance, Villa have now won 30 matches across all competitions in 2025 and have lost just one of their last 25 Premier League home games. The victory also maintains their perfect record in matches following Europa League fixtures this season, making them the only Premier League side with a 100% winning record in such games.
The introduction of Ollie Watkins in the 54th minute changed the dynamic of the game, with Villa pushing Wolves deeper into their own half before Kamara's moment of quality decided the contest. The win marks Villa's third consecutive home league victory against Wolves, having managed just one win in their previous nine encounters at Villa Park.
Aston Villa Player Ratings Analysis
Emi Martinez (8): The Argentine international produced several vital saves, including a spectacular first-half stop from Mosquera's header and a smart second-half intervention to deny Bellegarde.
Boubacar Kamara (8): The match-winner not only provided his typical combative presence in midfield but demonstrated exceptional technique to score the decisive goal with his weaker foot from distance.
John McGinn (8): The tenacious captain created the opportunity for Kamara's goal with a clever lay-off and worked tirelessly throughout, covering every blade of grass in midfield.
Defensive Unit (7s): Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, and Lucas Digne all delivered solid performances, with Torres making a particularly crucial intervention to prevent Strand Larsen from tapping in at the back post.
Emi Buendia (5): The creative midfielder struggled to make an impact upon his return to the starting lineup, making several poor decisions before being substituted early in the second half.
The result sees Villa continue their impressive form under Emery while Wolves' difficult season continues, having picked up just two points from their first 13 Premier League matches - the third-worst start in English top-flight history.
