Wolves are disrupting attacks with relative ease and now have a free-kick close to halfway. Time is running out for Villa.
Wolves dally over the free-kick in an effort to wind down the clock and so Neves is shown a yellow card.
90' +1
The fourth official has indicated that five minutes will be added on. Enough time for Villa if they're good enough.
90'
Almost into stoppage time at Villa Park and Wolves continue to lead 1-0. It could be three wins on the bounce for them since the season restart.
87'
Excellent from Traore. He uses his chest to control the ball, skips past Taylor and then hits a cross into the area that reaches Jonny on the opposite side. The attacker is such a handful at the moment.
85'
Pedro Neto enters the game and replaces R. Jiménez.
Another good game from Jimenez comes to an end. The striker takes an age to reach the touchline, where winger Neto is waiting to replace him.
82'
A. El Ghazi enters the game and replaces K. Davis.
Trézéguet enters the game and replaces M. Nakamba.
Two more changes now for Villa as Smith rolls the dice. He turns first to Trezeguet, who replaces Nakamba.
Davis has worked hard without reward. He heads to the bench, with El Ghazi introduced.
79'
Villa struggling to find any way through this Wolves defence, which is so well organised. Hard to see a route to goal for the hosts.
74'
Hause has been a danger in the air all game and he gets up to meet Grealish's floated free-kick. As has been the case though, his header is an awkward one and off target.
73'
Villa trailed at Newcastle during the week before Elmohamady came up with a late equaliser. They would take another one now with just over 15 minutes left to play.
Minute
Description
70'
Traore is already creating problems. He wins a foul in the defensive half having earlier had a touch in the lead-up to the goal.
69'
Time for another refreshment break. Importantly, a chance for Villa boss Smith to relay a message or two. His team have 20 minutes to salvage a result.
67'
Dendoncker back in the action again as he almost latches onto a corner at the far post.
65'
If the scoreline remains the same, Wolves will be going up to fifth - three points ahead of Manchester United.
62'
L. Dendoncker has scored a goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers! Assist by Jonny.
GOOAAALLL!! Wolves lead through Dendoncker. The midfielder has worked hard to get forward all game and deserves that. It's a brilliant finish into the bottom-right corner with his left foot after Jimenez's pass into Jonny broke around the edge of the box. The visitors go ahead 1-0.
Jonny, so well found by Jimenez, had rushed into an advanced position through the middle before the ball wriggled out to Dendoncker.
60'
Ahmed El Mohamady enters the game and replaces E. Konsa.
Adama Traoré enters the game and replaces Diogo Jota.
J. McGinn enters the game and replaces C. Hourihane.
An attacking change at right-back for Villa with Elmohamady on for the more defensive-minded Konsa.
Smith goes to his bench for a double change on the hour mark. In midfield, it's McGinn on for Hourihane.
Wolves' first change sees Traore replace Jota.
59'
Davis helps out his defence and launches a Villa counter-attack. Grealish gets involved but he's uncharacteristically at fault for the move breaking down as his attempted cross flies way over the bar.
57'
Wolves build an attack through Jota and Jimenez. As it unfolds, Traore continues to prepare for what looks to be an imminent substitution.
54'
Samatta goes to ground after very minor contact on the edge of the area. No foul, no booking. The deadlock remains intact.
50'
Villa win a free-kick and Hourihane makes much better use of the set-piece this time as he almost picks out Mings. Patricio reads it well and gets an important hand in before Mings can get a touch.
49'
Meanwhile, at the other end, Hourihane delivers a corner that sails over everyone.
47'
Moutinho sends a dangerous ball into the box and it almost drops for Doherty at the far post. No harm for Villa in the end.
46'
Kick-off in the second half at Villa Park. Wolves attacking the Holte End.
45' +5
HALF-TIME: ASTON VILLA 0-0 WOLVES
45' +4
Wolves are probing for one final chance to close out the first half.
45' +2
Into added time and it remains goalless despite a couple of chances at either end late in this first half.
40'
Good play from Wolves. Doherty and Dendoncker combine to open up a shooting opportunity for Jimenez, but the striker fires wide.
37'
Patricio made to work by Grealish, who fizzes in a low shot that's straight at the goalkeeper.
34'
Coady picks out Dendoncker with a brilliant long pass forward. Space looked to be opening up for the midfielder, who had to settle for a corner following a heavy touch. Villa ultimately clear the danger.
32'
More than 30 minutes gone at Villa Park and Doherty's chance remains the best we've seen. Villa have had more shots, but all three have been off target.
30'
No lasting effects for Nakamba, seemingly. That'll be a relief for Smith after the Villa manager lost left-back Targett to injury earlier.
27'
We're back underway and Wolves are right back on the attack! Jimenez escapes down the right and delivers an excellent cross between the defence and goalkeeper. Jota can't quite get there in time.
25'
Time for a quick break as the two teams head to the touchline for water and instructions.
22'
Davis gets a volley away from Konsa's cross but Wolves captain Coady does enough to put the striker off.
21'
Wolves now beginning to advance up the pitch a bit more as they look to impose themselves on the match.
18'
T. Mings gets yellow.
Wolves turn the Villa defence around with a pass over the top and Mings is forced to shove Jota to the ground right on the edge of the box. The foul earns the defender a booking.
17'
Fouls from both teams really disrupting the flow of proceedings as we head towards the 20-minute mark.
14'
Hourihane sends in a corner after Grealish shows quick feet in a tight area. Again centre-back Hause wins the header from the set-piece, but again he fails to direct it on target.
13'
Villa win another free-kick, this time through Davis, but Grealish's delivery is too heavy. Still, these are positive signs from the home side.
11'
N. Taylor enters the game and replaces M. Targett.
Eventually the change is made. Wales international Taylor is on at left-back in a straight swap for the injured Targett.
10'
Targett is back down and will surely have to come off here.
9'
Grealish wins a foul and Villa decide to swing it into the box from a deep area. Hause rises unchallenged and gets his head to the ball, but it loops well over the crossbar.
7'
Targett looks to still be in some discomfort but he's back on the pitch and will attempt to continue after receiving treatment.
5'
Samatta makes a darting run in behind the Wolves defence but the ball runs beyond him and out for a goal kick.
3'
This Wolves XI mirrors the one selected for the 2-0 win over West Ham last weekend. With Traore and Neto available from the bench, Nuno certainly has firepower in reserve.
1'
We're underway at Villa Park! Not the typical derby atmosphere but it should still be a feisty contest.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the weekend's opening Premier League fixture as Aston Villa take on local rivals Wolves!
This West Midlands derby comes at a tough time for hosts Villa, a team with two points from three games since the resumption and zero wins from their past eight in all competitions. Relegation is a very real possibility with seven matches left in the season, particularly given new champions Liverpool and a resurgent Manchester United are their next opponents after today. Villa should, however, take some confidence from their 1-1 draw at Newcastle United in midweek, secured thanks to Ahmed Elmohamady's late equaliser.
Wolves, meanwhile, have been in cruise control since returning to action. Victories over West Ham and Bournemouth have strengthened their claims for a Champions League spot, which could be available to the club that finishes fifth if UEFA upholds Manchester City's ban. That's exactly where Wolves will be – at least temporarily – if they claim a point or more here.
VILLA XI (4-3-1-2): Orjan Nyland; Ezri Konsa, Kortney Hause, Tyrone Mings, Matt Targett; Douglas Luiz, Marvelous Nakamba, Conor Hourihane; Jack Grealish; Keinan Davis, Mbwana Samatta.
VILLA SUBS: Pepe Reina, Ahmed Elmohamady, Neil Taylor, Danny Drinkwater, John McGinn, Anwar El Ghazi, Trezeguet, Jota, Indiana Vassilev.
WOLVES SUBS: John Ruddy, Max Kilman, Oskar Buur, Ruben Vinagre, Terry Taylor, Bruno Jordao, Morgan Gibbs-White, Pedro Neto, Daniel Podence.
The players are making their way out and it's almost time for kick-off!
Villa certainly need Nyland to eradicate the errors in the second half and must also bring Grealish, Davis and Samatta into the game more. You would think Wolves have another gear to go to as Traore and Neto watch on from the bench.
The dark clouds continue to gather around Villa and their gloom looks unlikely to lift with matches against Liverpool and Manchester United ahead. Smith's men remain 19th with 27 points from 32 games. In contrast, Wolves are right in the mix for Champions League qualification as they turn attention to next weekend's home game against Arsenal.
That concludes our coverage of this derby victory for Wolves. Thanks for your company and we hope you will join us again soon. Until then, it's goodbye for now!
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