Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce: Wolves deserved the victory

Villa struggled to create anything going forward at a sold-out Molineux and fell behind shortly into the second period as Diogo Jota fired home.

Substitute Leo Bonatini got the second after some fine play from Jota.

Robert Snodgrass hit the bar late on with a free-kick but, overall, this is a game Bruce's men will look to put behind them quickly.

"They played very, very well on the night. I have to say that the best team won, we have to be honest," said Bruce.

"We found it very difficult, especially just after half-time. They played some very, very good football.

"At the top end of the pitch they are a threat and we didn't have enough ourselves, going the other way, to pose a threat to them - that is the disappointing thing.

"Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say 'look, we have been beaten by the better team'.

"We'll dust ourselves down and get ready for next week (against Fulham at home)."

A win would have made it five in a row in the league for Villa. The last time they managed that was in the 1997/98 season under John Gregory.

Bruce added: "We've got to be honest, Wolves were better than us.

"You have to accept that. You don't want to admit that, but that was the case.

"I didn't think we did enough to stop them and didn't look after the ball well enough when he had the opportunity, especially at the top end of the pitch.

"All in all, the best team won."