Aston Villa 2-3 Wolves

Aston Villa conceded three late goals as midlands neighbours Wolves hit back to inflict a cruel 3-2 defeat.

Danny Ings headed home his third goal of the season to break the deadlock early in the second half before John McGinn’s deflected strike in the 68^th minute put Villa firmly in command.

But Romain Saiss reduced the arrears when he netted from close range with 10 minutes remaining, before Conor Coady grabbed an 85^th-minute equaliser and Ruben Neves’ deflected free-kick deep into injury time ensured in-form Wanderers secured the derby spoils.

It was a bitter pill to swallow and tough on Villa, who looked in control until the latter stages and duly saw their unbeaten record at Villa Park this season come to an end.

The Villans now travel to Arsenal next Friday night looking to get back on track.

Emi Martínez and Douglas Luiz were both named in Villa’s starting XI, with the duo having lined up on international duty for Argentina and Brazil respectively in South America in the early hours of Friday morning before returning swiftly to the midlands.

Dean Smith made two changes from the defeat at Tottenham Hotspur prior to the international break, Emi Buendía and Axel Tuanzebe coming in for Jacob Ramsey and Kortney Hause.

Buendía pulled an early shot wide before captain Tyrone Mings did well to block a shot from Hee Chan Hwang.

McGinn was next to see a long-range strike flash narrowly off target before Luiz did likewise and Buendía went close from six yards, albeit with Jose Sa yet to be forced into action midway through the first half.

Yet all that changed in the 27^th minute as Buendía fed Ings and he was denied by an excellent save from the Wolves keeper.

Martínez came to Villa’s rescue just after the half-hour mark as a surging Adama Traore rode a handful of challenges and raced clean through only to be denied by the legs of the Villa stopper.

Matty Cash was next to go close, drilling over the crossbar from inside the penalty area, as the encounter remained goalless at the break.

But Villa finally broke the deadlock just three minutes after the restart.

Cash clipped a ball down the right channel for McGinn, who turned his man and delivered an inch-perfect cross for the onrushing Ings to head home from 12 yards.

The lively Cash was pushing forward at every opportunity and he sent another opening over the bar in the 65^th minute.

And it was 2-0 shortly afterwards as Ollie Watkins saw his strike blocked and McGinn followed up with a low drive which deflected off Neves and past Sa.

Yet Wolves reduced the arrears in the 80^th minute when Saiss slid in to slot past Martínez from close range.

And worse was to follow five minutes later as Maximilian Kilman’s header came back off the woodwork, Wolves recycled the ball and Coady was on hand to poke home from yards out to secure a share of the spoils.

As the clash looked destined to end honours even, Wolves were awarded a free-kick in the 95^th minute and Neves saw his strike deflect off the unfortunate Matt Targett and wrongfoot Martínez.