Wolves report and player ratings from Molineux as Hwang Hee-chan scores against Aston Villa but they have to settle for a point

Wolverhampton Wanderers added another point to their Premier League tally on Sunday when they played out a 1-1 draw with rivals Aston Villa at Molineux – the final outing before the next international break. Hwang Hee-chan scored his sixth goal of the season – five of them coming in the Premier League. Pau Torres levelled up for Villa on a day where Mario Lemina was dismissed in stoppage time.

The first opportunity came to Villa, when Matty Cash latched onto the end of John McGinn’s lob to the back post. He struck the ball cleanly first time, but Jose Sa was a match for him and reacted quickly to beat the effort away. McGinn then came close himself with a speculative shot from distance.

Wolves were a little slow to warm to the derby atmosphere generated by Molineux, but they pressed hard from the front through Hwang and Matheus Cunha without producing too many clear-cut chances. Indeed the best they got in the first period was when Rayan Ait-Nouri, forced off at half time, helped Hwang’s cross from the left just past the post.

Sa had to again be called upon immediately after the restart, when Ollie Watkins poked McGinn’s cross towards the top corner. The save, with the tips of his fingers, was excellent. That prompted appreciative applause from the South Bank, who’d explode into delirium moments later.

Hwang started the move when he won his 50-50 with Douglas Luiz in his own half and set Cunha on his way. Wolves have pace in abundance on the break in the form of Pedro Neto and they duly utilised it. He gave Torres a torrid time when beating him around the outside and his low cross, which took a nick off Lucas Digne was helped in by the onrushing Hwang.

Wolves’ delight lasted merely two minutes. Luiz’s free kick was only half cleared by Toti and Watkins picked out Torres, unmarked, at the back post. He nodded across the diving Sa and back into the far corner to instantly level matters.

Those goals, that five-minute burst, ought to have livened up the game, and increased the levels of quality, but the proceedings returned to a rather niggly affair, with lots of stoppages because of injuries, or fouls. Wolves actually looked the more likely to score the third goal, when Hwang fed substitute Sasa Kaladjzic and his superb ball across the face of goal was met by Neto, who lifted the ball over Emi Martinez, over the bar and into the North Bank.

With 12 minutes added on at the end – such was the quantity of stoppages Molineux saw over the course of the second half – Villa ended the game the stronger of the two teams and Watkins rattled the side netting from an awkward angle. McGinn then teed up Luiz in the box, but Wolves bodies were thrown in the way. They were extremely thankful, though, when Nicolo Zaniolo’s hooked attempt deep in stoppage time fell just past the post and for Sa who denied Ezri Konsa.

The hosts would finish the game with ten men when Mario Lemina was shown a second yellow of the day. The points were shared and Wolves can now recuperate during the forthcoming international break.

Wolves player ratings v Aston Villa

Sa 8

Called into action early on when he reacted quickly to keep out Cash, who had met a deep McGinn delivery to the back post. Had to be switched on at the very start of the second half when Watkins prodded a shot on target, which he tipped over brilliantly. Big stop at the end to deny Konsa.

Semedo 6

Wolves operating with a back three in possession and a back five out of it meant that Semedo had lots of opportunities to roam forward and play his part in Wolves attacks. Torres gave him the slip to create room and nod in Villa’s equaliser at the back post.

Kilman 8

So cool on the ball. Physically imperious but careful and decisive in possession playing on the right, despite being left footed. One brief moment where he took his eye off the ball and didn’t cleanly connect with a clearance left hearts in mouths, but he blocked everything.

Dawson 7

In his own private tussle with McGinn for the bulk of the first half, whenever Wolves won a corner in front of the South Bank. Booked when he caught Watkins late. Won some big headers in his own penalty area, applying himself as he always does.

Toti 7

The young defender, playing on the left of the back three, fared pretty well over the course of the 90 minutes. The half time transtition from having Ait-Nouri on his left to Doherty was seamless. Last year’s hero applied himself well in the same fixture this time around.

Ait-Nouri 6

Some lovely skill on the left dragged Wolves up the pitch to release pressure and his combination with Cunha earned a corner. Helped a Hwang cross on its way, but that effort drifted just past Martinez’s far post. Took a whack when colliding with Cash, which forced him off.

Gomes 6

A loose pass in his own defensive third brought about an opportunity for McGinn, who thankfully fired his effort over the bar. Ticked the play over until he was withdrawn in the second half, a hardworking if not spectacular display.

Lemina 5

The midfielder’s role would be key in the middle, in the face of quality opposition who posed questions with their skill and strength. Lemina broke the play up effectively and tried his luck from distance but picked up a soft second yellow in stoppage time to taint his afternoon.

Neto 7

Too quick for McGinn, who was booked as a result of catching the winger late, on the touch-line. Villa didn’t learn from Man City’s troubles a week ago, as Neto ran Torres ragged down the Wolves right to carve out the opening goal. Set pieces and crosses were a mixed bag.

Hwang 8*

Really busy from the off, chasing down passes back to Martinez and looking to combine with Cunha, but the final ball was often lacking in a half with little quality on display. Having been treated for a forearm to the face from Luiz, Hwang dusted himself off and finished off the move he started to bring about the opening goal.

Cunha 7

His powerful drive from deep drew a yellow card for Boubacar Kamara early on. Played a significant hand in the build up to Hwang’s opener, when he took the ball from the Korean from deep and fed Neto over on the right. A hard afternoon’s work.

Substitutes

Doherty (for Ait-Nouri HT) 6

Contested a good battle with Cash on the Wolves left hand side having been introduced at the break. Ventured forwards late on without reward and did just enough to put off Watkins as he pulled the trigger at the death.

Traore (for Gomes 69) 6

Did okay for his part when introduced. Nailed a couple of challenges in the middle of the pitch and tried to be productive when in possession of the ball.

Kalajdzic (for Cunha 76)

Silva (for Hwang 86)

Substitutes not used: Bentley, Bueno, Jonny, Doyle, Sarabia

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash (Bailey 82), Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; McGinn, Luiz, Kamara (Tielemans 82), Diaby (Zaniolo 62), Watkins

Substitutes not used: Olsen, Traore, Chambers, Lenglet, Dendoncker, Duran

GOALS

Wolves – Hwang 53; Villa – Torres 55