Surging Aston Villa target winless Wolves to continue momentum | OneFootball

Aston Villa return to Premier League duty against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

Manager Unai Emery has rotated his squad smartly across competitions, and the result has been a team that plays with assurance and remains a constant threat in transition.

Their midweek victory over Young Boys in the Europa League restored the sharpness that seemed to slip before the international break.

It also added to a growing list of games in which Villa have looked capable of dictating tempo regardless of opposition.

Donyell Malen’s brace reinforced how crucial he has become to their attacking identity, especially now that his partnership with Morgan Rogers has become a consistent source of goals.

This has made Villa Park an even more imposing venue, with seven straight home wins combining intensity and a level of finishing that has left visiting teams scrambling.

The growing confidence has also been reflected in the way they protect leads, reset when momentum swings and close out matches in a way they did not always manage last season.

The tone of Wolves’ campaign has been heavily shaped by missed moments, late errors and long spells in matches when they have struggled to impose themselves.

Their defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend dragged them back into familiar territory, and the broader picture shows a team that has taken only two points from 12 league games.

The lack of fluency in the final third has been damaging, especially as their defensive structure has been unable to absorb pressure for lengthy periods without eventually breaking.

Rob Edwards has attempted to rework the build-up play and bring more discipline to their transitions, but the away form continues to undermine any progress, with Wolves scoring once away this season.

This leaves them heading to one of the toughest grounds in the league at a time when their confidence is thin and their margin for error minimal.

Villa’s current level suggests that maintaining their push up the table is within reach if they deliver the control and ruthlessness that have defined their recent performances.