Wolves cruise past Villa

Home Debut
By Scott Cooper
July 30 2005

WOLVES warmed up for their opening Championship game away at Southampton a week today with the best possible way after a strong performance against local rivals Aston Villa.

It's not been the best of pre-season's for Wolves, results wise, but the performance against Aston Villa today was one of the best pre-season performances witnessed for a while.

Hoddle opted to play his strongest available squad. Hungarian International defender Gabor Gyepes started on the bench with George Ndah whilst Rob Edwards joined Lescott in the centre of defence.

The opening few minutes were cagy but gradually Wolves were able to turn the screw and turn their early domination into goals.

For Cort it was lucky 13 as he tapped home his fourth goal in two games on the 13th minute mark. The former Newcastle man could hardly miss and tapped home from close range after some nice work by Lee Naylor.

Two minutes later and the home side doubled their lead in the best worked goal of the game. The improved Kennedy found Miller who lofted a superb ball towards the back post for Cort to knock down into the path of the on-rushing Olofinjana who hit the back of the net from six yards. Wolves were cruising.

Wolves came close again when the excellent Seol put two Villa players on their backsides but his shot was easily gathered by Sorensen in the Villa goal.

On the half hour mark Villa pulled a goal back. Kevin Phillips found himself unmarked at the back post and made no mistake with his header from a Solano cross.

The visitors then pushed forward, but Oakes saved well from Phillips and twice from Angel before the interval.

O'Leary had planned to use many of his youngsters in the second half but after realising he had a game on his hands, decided to stick with his strongest eleven.

However Villa were to fail in the few rare attempts on goal and it was Wolves who should have put the game beyond doubt. Cort and Kennedy hit the bar whilst Sorensen made good saves from Cameron and Ricketts.

It's not a time to get too carried away but Hoddle will be delighted with such a quality performance just seven days before the season gets underway in the live televised clash with Southampton.

WOLVES 2-1 ASTON VILLA