Anwar El Ghazi converted a 94th-minute penalty to secure a dramatic 1-0 victory against Wolves and claim the spoils from a full-bloodied midlands derby.
The substitute stepped up to send Rui Patricio the wrong way from the spot and seal local bragging rights after John McGinn was brought down by Nelson Semedo.
It was a thrilling finale to an entertaining encounter, which saw both sides finish with 10 men after Douglas Luiz and Joao Moutinho were sent off in the latter stages for second bookable offences.
Fabio Silva had earlier come closest to breaking the deadlock when his second-half strike struck the inside of a post, while Emi Martinez pulled off a superb save to keep out Leander Dendoncker’s close-range volley.
Villa's first triumph at Molineux since 2012, in what was Dean Smith's 500th game as a manager, sees them get back to winning ways, winning four of their five matches on the road this term, with Burnley next up on home soil on Thursday night.
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Academy graduate Jacob Ramsey, 19, was handed his full Premier League debut by head coach Smith, one of two changes with Bertrand Traore also included in Villa’s starting XI.
And it was a typical end-to-end derby encounter in the opening quarter although neither goalkeeper was forced into a save of note, Ezri Konsa heading narrowly wide just after the half-hour mark.
Martinez was the first to be called into action in the 40th minute, getting down well to keep out Daniel Podence’s long-range strike before the Villa stopper denied Dendoncker, Tyrone Mings clearing the danger, to ensure it remained goalless at the interval.
Luiz pulled a shot off target from the edge of the penalty area in the 57th minute before Adama Traore tested Martinez and Pedro Neto fired just off target from distance.
Ollie Watkins forced a save from Patricio in the 66th minute as chances came at either end, Wolves frontman Silva striking the inside of a post with a low shot before Martinez collected Romain Saiss’ header.
Villa’s Argentinian keeper was at it again to produce a superb save to keep out Dendoncker’s close-range volley in the 80th minute.
Luiz was then given his marching orders five minutes later, shown a second yellow card after it was decided he led with an elbow in an aerial challenge with Podence.
And as both sides pushed for a late winner, McGinn, having signed a contract extension on Friday, was upended by Semedo in the area and El Ghazi converted the resulting penalty deep into stoppage time, coming after Villa missed the chance of late reward from the spot against West Ham last time out.
There was still time for more late drama as Moutinho was sent off for a second yellow card following a foul on Ramsey, but it was the Villans who claimed the derby spoils.
Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey (Nakamba 90+7), Traore (El Ghazi 75), Watkins, Grealish (c).
Subs: Steer, Guilbert, Hause, Elmohamady, Hourihane.
