Aston Villa vs Wolves: The last five meetings

Luke Hatfield takes a look back at the last five meetings between the two sides to get a glimpse at how they've handled each other of late.

Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa -14th October 2017

It was all fun and games for Wolves earlier on this season, as they comfortably despatched Villa 2-0 at Molineux in October.

Diogo Jota's phenomenal start to the season continued with a goal in the 55th minute, before Leo Bonatini's early season form paid dividends with the second with 20 minutes remaining.

Villa were restricted to half-chances throughout, with Robert Snodgrass hitting the woodwork with a free-kick. It was only Sam Johnstone in goal and some last-ditch defending that kept the scoreline so respectable for the visitors.

The win lifted Wolves to the top of the Championship table, whilst Villa stayed seventh after the game.

If Wolves can replicate their performance that day, Villa may find things hard. Although Steve Bruce will undoubtedly hope for a better showing on home turf.

Wolves 1-0 Aston Villa - 14th January 2017

Both Villa and Wolves paid their respects to Graham Taylor at Molineux last January, with the former manager of both sides sadly passing away ahead of the game.

It was Wolves once again who claimed all three points in this meeting, which was the first between the sides at Molineux in the second tier.

Joe Mason netted the only goal of the game after Sam Johnstone could only parry a low cross into the box 15 minutes in.

Villa failed to register a single shot on target, with a Ross McCormack header the closes the visitors came to equalising.

Just a week later, Bruce publicly criticised the Scottish striker over his infamous 'gate-gate' situation. He's yet to play a league game again under the boss following that defeat.

Aston Villa 1-1 Wolves - 15th October 2016

The last time Villa got any kind of positive result against their nearby neighbours. Two penalties decided the previous clash between the sides at Villa Park - although there was plenty more controversy to discuss.

Referee David Coote, who's once again set to take charge of the derby this weekend, irked Wolves fans throughout the contest by failing to send off Jack Grealish for a stamp on Conor Coady and also refusing to award a penalty after Micah Richards clattered into Jon Dadi Bodvarsson in the box.

Jonathan Kodjia opened the scoring 15 minutes in to Steve Bruce's first game in charge of Villa following Dominic Iorfa's tangle with Grealish, whilst Helder Costa levelled proceedings from 12 yards after an Aly Cissokho handball.

Then-boss Walter Zenga had plenty of strong words after the game, criticising Coote's performance, most notably for denying a second spot-kick for the visitors.

Grealish received a retrospective three-game ban from the FA for his missed stamp on Coady.

Fans will be hoping that the man in black has a less controversial game this time around.

Wolves 2-3 Aston Villa - 21st January 2012

You need to go all the way back to 2012 for the next earliest fixture between the two Midlands outfits, with former Wolves striker Robbie Keane bagging a brace as Villa ran out 3-2 victors in the season Mick McCarthy's men were relegated from the top flight.

It was Keane's first start for the Villans following his loan move from LA Galaxy, but it was Darren Bent who got the game off to a frantic start after winning and scoring a penalty after 11 minutes.

Michael Kightly equalised just ten minutes later, before Dave Edwards tipped the game in the host's favour after nodding home from a Roger Johnson flick-on.

But it was to be Robbie Keane's evening, as he levelled the game just after the break with a snapshot from the edge of the area before Karl Henry saw red for a cynical kick at Marc Albrighton.

Wolves nearly hung-on for a hard-fought draw, before Keane stepped up and rocketed home a strike off the bar and into the back of the net with only six minutes of normal time remaining.

A similar spectacle this weekend would be a great advert for Championship football.

Aston Villa 0-0 Wolves - 27th August 2011

In stark contrast to that game was a disappointing meeting between the two rivals almost seven years ago, in which neither side truly impressed.

Both sides had started the season unbeaten, and both seemingly accepted the chance to keep things that way.

Stephen Hunt forced an early save from Shay Given, but Villa had the best of the second half, with defender Richard Dunne coming closest after his header was cleared off the line by Kevin Doyle.

A soft penalty claim from Wolves was all that was left in the 90 minutes, after Chris Herd and Stephen Ward clashed in the box, but the game ended goalless.

Offer a point to both sides this weekend and they may take it - although a 0-0 draw wouldn't be welcome for many neutrals.