Supersub Jhon Duran completed a tremendous Aston Villa comeback after winless Wolves had threatened to give them a Champions League hangover.
The visitors had threatened to take advantage of Villa’s midweek trip to Switzerland to lead through Matheus Cunha after an error by Diego Carlos.
But Ollie Watkins levelled after 73 minutes with the home side’s first shot on target before winning the game late on.
Ezri Konsa scored only his eighth goal in five years at Villa Park to put Unai Emery’s side ahead after 88 minutes and injury time Duran bagged his customary goal – already the fourth he’s scored off the bench this season.
In a feisty west Midlands derby that saw nine players booked plus Emery and Wolves assistant Shaun Derry, the visitors also saw Yerson Mosquera carried off at 1-1 after being caught by Morgan Rogers.
Jhon Duran scored in the closing stages as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Wolves
Duran added to Villa’s lead, with Unai Emery’s side moving up to third place in the table
Konsa’s goal, scored in the 88th minute, saw Villa complete an impressive comeback
Villa manager Emery celebrates after Konsa’s goal had put his side 2-1 ahead
The afternoon had started with a tribute to 1982 European Cup winner Gary Shaw who died last week aged 63.
The visitors then made the quicker start with Mario Lemina twice denied by Emi Martinez before they went ahead after 25 minutes.
Carlos, making his first start of the season, underhit a pass to Amadou Onana which allowed Cunha to intercept.
From there, the Brazilian strode into the penalty area and buried a finish into the bottom corner.
Joao Gomes ploughed into Lucas Digne and then unwisely gestured for the Frenchman to get up as tempers flared. And Wolves missed a golden chance to score again before the interval when Martinez denied Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Neither Digne nor John McGinn reappeared for the second half because of knocks but Villa couldn’t get going with Emery turning to Duran and Ross Barkley after an hour.
In his anxiety to push forward, Youri Tielemans carelessly gave the ball away in midfield and was fortunate Gomes didn’t have the pace to make it 2-0.
Villa’s first genuine chance to level arrived after 68 minutes when a Watkins header beat Sam Johnstone but was hoofed away by Masquera. Watkins then lost his marker at a corner but headed over.
Ollie Watkins expresses his delight after scoring Villa’s equaliser against Wolves
Matheus Cunha celebrates after his goal, scored in the 25th minute, put Wolves ahead
Cunha opened the scoring for Wolves as he scored his second league goal of the season
Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera was carried off on a stretcher in the second half
The amount of time Wolves were taking over their substitutions frustrated Villa Park and Emery also saw his name in the notebook.
But all that was forgotten when Watkins finally broke the visitor’s resistance.
A loose touch by Lemina gave Villa possession and Duran’s physicality helped the ball reach Morgan Rogers on the edge of the box. His pass into Watkins was buried by the England striker with what was Villa’s first shot on target.
The tide was turning. Mosquera had to leave the pitch and Tielemans’ cross then reached Konsa at the far post with the defender stretching a leg to turn in.
Ironically, his only other goal since 2021 also came against Wolves last season.
There were a few groans when 13 minutes of injury-time was signalled but Villa put the game to bed when Rogers crossed low for Duran to turn in. The drama of the afternoon was then underpinned by thunder and lightning in the final few minutes before referee Tim Robinson finally blew for the end.
Villa now find themselves in the top four – and Wolves in the relegation zone.
