Villa 1 Wolves 1 - Report and pictures

Analysis

Villa took a point from Steve Bruce's first match in charge as they held off Wolves in the West Midlands derby, writes Matt Maher.

Jonathan Kodjia gave his new boss the perfect start when he netted from the penalty spot after half-an-hour.

But Helder Costa levelled with a penalty of his own before the break and Wolves proceeded to dominate the second half.

valeiro saw denied by a brilliant save from Villa keeper Pierluigi Gollini.

The goal wouldn't come for Walter Zenga's men, however, and while the result did at least snap a two-game losing run, the Italian head coach will feel intense frustration at how many chances to win the game his side squandered.

Villa remain unbeaten at home but the last five have been draws and for Bruce this was an illustration of just how much there is to do. His team enjoyed the better of the first-half but spent the entire second period on the back foot against slicker and quicker opponents.

On this evidence, Wolves seem more likely to trouble the top six this term, though they certainly cannot afford to be so wasteful.

Despite dominating the second period, they didn't force Gollini into a save of note.

Zenga made three changes from the team which lost 2-1 to Norwich last time out, with a clear emphasis on adding greater steel. That meant recalls for the fit-again Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Kortney Hause and Conor Coady. Joao Teixeira and Ivan Cavaleiro both dropped to the bench, while Cameron Borthwick-Jackson missed out altogether.

The biggest headline from Bruce's team selection meanwhile was a recall for Micah Richards, with the defender handed a first league start of the season. Aaron Tshibola, Ross McCormack and Gollini all returned to the side, while Jordan Ayew had to make do with a place on the bench.

Villa's line-up was close to a traditional 4-4-2 with Albert Adomah and Grealish out wide, with McCormack partnering Kodjia up front. Wolves lined up in a 4-3-3 with Oniangue and the excellent Costa either side of Bodvarsson, who proved himself a handful for Villa's backline with a typically boisterous performance.

It was a cautious start from Villa, who gave away a number of free-kicks inside their own half as Wolves settled the quicker.

But nothing eases the nerves like a goal and the hosts claimed it after 15 minutes. Grealish played in McCormack and then made a darting run into the box, tumbling before he could receive the return pass after the slightest of tugs on the shirt from Iorfa.

Kodjia's run-up was deliberate but his finish near perfect, as he found the bottom corner of the net, the ball flying out of reach of Ikeme's outstretched left glove.

Villa were buzzing and Wolves, who looked disjointed in attack, struggling gain a foothold in the game.

Ultimately, they were handed one, in a literal sense, when Cissokho was penalised for blocking a Costa shot with his hand. Costa stepped up and placed his penalty into the top corner, as Wolves finally tasted joy from the spot after two missed attempts this term.

Kodjia had two efforts saved by Ikeme and Villa will feel they should have led at the break. But they were also fortunate not to be a man down, Grealish escaping any punishment for an apparent stamp on Conor Coady which sparked a melee in which the Wolves man, and McCormack, were both booked.

Wolves screamed out of the blocks at the start of the second half and will wonder just how they failed to take the lead. Costa and Oniangue both sent efforts narrowly wide, while the visitors will feel they should have had a penalty when Richards clumsily challenged Bodvarsson just when the Iceland international looked set to score.

Villa's game, meanwhile, fell apart, though they were not helped by injured to Richards and skipper Tommy Elphick which forced Bruce into two unwanted changes.

For all their dominance, Wolves failed to test Gollini. Villa were indebted to a superb Alan Hutton block in the final 10 minutes when he stood behind the keeper to get in the way of Cavaleiro's shot and preserve a point.

Key moments

15 - GOAL - Villa are awarded what looks to be a soft penalty as Jack Grealish goes down in the box. Dominic Iorfa was running behind the Villa man and Grealish appears to trip himself up. Jonathan Kodjia steps up and places a superb penalty into the corner past Carl Ikeme.

34 - GOAL - Referee David Coote evens things up on the penalty front and Wolves have a leveller. The ball rolls across the box and Helder Costa fires goalwards - it hits the diving Aly Cissokho on the hand. Costa steps up to make it 1-1 with another very good spot kick.

36 - Kodjia unleashes a dipping 25-yard volley which Ikeme has to push wide.

39 - There's a major flashpoint as Grealish appears to stamp on Coady. The Wolves man reacts and soon enough everyone is piling in. After much discussion the referee books Coady and Ross McCormack, who also waded in. But Grealish escapes punishment.

44 - Kodjia spins and shoots from 15 yards. It's saved by Ikeme, but if Kodjia had passed to his left McCormack was completely unmarked.

52 - Blatant penalty for Wolves turned down by referee Coote. Costa bursts into the box and tees up Bodvarsson who's set to shoot before Micah Richards bundles him over.

53 - Villa can't handle Costa. He bends a 15-yard shot inches past the post.

58 - Costa again, on the right flank, crosses for Prince Oniangue who steers across the face of goal and just past the post from close range. It's all Wolves.

65 - Brilliant flick-on by Jon Dadi Bodvarsson. It releases David Edwards in the box but his shot across goal lacks conviction.

73 - Adomah saves an almost certain goal by taking the ball off the toes of Bodvarsson at the far post from an Ivan Cavaleiro corner.

83 - Wolves spurn yet another chance as Gollini saves at point blank range from Cavaleiro. He should have scored.

Man of the match

Helder Costa - Villa couldn't handle him at times. Adding consistency to his game now.

Teams

Villa (4-4-2): Gollini; Richards (Hutton, 66), Elphick (c) (Baker, 77), Chester, Cissokho; Adomah, Jedinak (Westwood, 55), Tshibola, Grealish; McCormack, Kodjia. Subs: Bunn, Bacuna, Ayew, Gestede.

Goals: Kodjia (15, pen)

Wolves (4-3-3): Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth (c), Hause, Doherty; Coady, Saiss, Edwards; Costa (Cavaleiro, 72), Bodvarsson (Mason, 87), Oniangue (Dicko, 66). Subs: Lonergan, Stearman, Saville, Teixeira.

Goals: Costa (34, pen)

Attendance: 32,533

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)