Aston Villa were furious after VAR disallowed what would have been an equalising goal for Donyell Malen in their 2-0 loss at Wolves.

Goals from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Matheus Cunha secured a deserved win for Wolves but the visitors were angered by a controversial moment in the second half.

What happened

With the score 1-0 to Wolves on 54 minutes, Villa were awarded a free-kick around 25 yards from goal. Wolves built a four-man wall with a player lying behind them to block a shot. Nelson Semedo stood to the right of the wall as the free-kick was about to be taken.

As Lamare Bogarde went to take the kick, Morgan Rogers ran behind the wall towards Semedo, making a little contact with the Portuguese international. Instead of a shot, the ball was passed to John McGinn, with Semedo turning past Rogers to try and block the cross.

Semedo failed to do so, with McGinn playing the ball perfectly across the six-yard box for Malen to tap in.

The goal was instantly disallowed for offside, with VAR confirming that decision after concluding that Rogers had interfered with play and blocked Semedo from getting to McGinn.

Villa were clearly upset and failed to get back into the game, with Cunha sealing Wolves’ win late on.

The reaction

Speaking on Sky Sport, Unai Emery, the Villa manager, was clearly irritated.

“It’s VAR’s task. They [Villa staff] watched it and told me it is not offside because he didn’t touch the ball. But of course it is VAR’s task. Now they say something different, not in the nice way in my thoughts. But sometimes even VAR I think are making mistakes.”

Jamie Redknapp, on Sky Sports, said: “I can certainly understand how Unai Emery, the Aston Villa fans and players will be thinking ‘how on earth has this not been given?’.

“He gets his left arm on him and tries to block him – does he impede him enough? It’s not enough, not for me. Semedo isn’t alive [to the danger]. He should be checking his shoulder. He [Rogers] really doesn’t do a lot.

“Once that ball goes in he [Semedo] doesn’t even complain. I think he [Rogers] was really unlucky there.”

Darren Bent, also on Sky Sports, agreed. “I don’t think he [Rogers] does enough to warrant that not to be given as a goal. Body language is everything and if Semedo genuinely thought he had been impeded enough by Morgan Rogers you jump up and run after the ref. All of the players in that defensive line think they have conceded a goal.”

The context

Villa are desperately trying to add players before Monday’s transfer deadline, with a deal for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford almost complete, and their need for reinforcements intensified on Saturday.

They endured another Champions League hangover as they failed to win for the seventh time after a midweek European adventure this season. They also lost Ollie Watkins, with the forward not returning after half-time due to an apparent groin injury.

Wolves were excellent value for their victory, arresting a four-match losing streak, to move out of the relegation zone.

After the game, Wolves manager Vitor Pereira said that goalscorer Cunha remains committed to the club despite interest from Premier League rivals.

“I think he is committed with us,” Pereira told Sky Sports. “The last conversation that we had, he said ‘I will help the team to be in the Premier League next season’. At the end of the season, we’ll see.

“He’s very committed with us to help the team and our team-mates and to help the club.”

Cunha has been linked to Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.

07:45 PM GMT

Celebration decoded

It is that time of the transfer window. Cunha blew a kiss to the Wolves fans and made a heart shape before pointing to the Molineux turf. Celebrating a return to form or a hint of a goodbye?

07:42 PM GMT

Matt Doherty speaking after the game

07:30 PM GMT

FT: Wolves 2 Aston Villa 0

Vitor Pereira punches the air and Wolves are above Leicester and out of the relegation zone. Villa, missing key defenders and losing Watkins to an apparent niggle, were not at the races. Wolves’ defensive discipline was impressive and they could have scored more. Just two wins in seven for Villa in the league and more dropped points after a Champions League game.

07:28 PM GMT

GOOOAAALL! Cunha seals the win for Wolves

Off comes the shirt, he will be booked for that, but he and Wolves will not care. Villa caught forward and Cunha started his run from his own half so was onside. Konsa and two other claret and blue shirts recovered to slow Cunha down, but he just steadied himself and drilled the ball across Martinez into the far corner. Rogers believes he was fouled in the build up but the goal stands. Game over.

07:26 PM GMT

96 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Matt Doherty looked for a cutback rather than taking the ball to the corner, and the ball deflects into the arms of Martinez. Villa have maybe two or three attacks left in them. Magnificent challenge from Toti to block Bailey’s cross.

07:24 PM GMT

94 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Strong punch from Sa at the corner as Villa tried to crowd him out,, and Tielemans lashes a left-footed volley miles over the bar. Time ticks away for Villa.

07:23 PM GMT

92 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Excellent defending again from Wolves to crowd out Bailey. They have no threat whatsoever going the other way though, this is an attack against defence session.

Bailey’s shot then deflects behind for a Villa corner. Almost five minutes still to play.

07:21 PM GMT

90 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Villa have the ball in Wolves territory but they are doing precious little with it. Wolves have six or seven players lining the edge of their box.

That was more dangerous though... Tielemans slipping a pass through to Malen but Sa made an impressive starfish save before gathering a cross.

There will be SEVEN added minutes.

07:18 PM GMT

88 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Unai Emery in animated discussions with his set-piece coach. Bueno has replaced Bellegarde, who has put an immense shift in for Wolves, playing out of position in midfield.

07:16 PM GMT

86 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Good save from Sa! Malen with the right-footed shot from around 25 yards. Rogers pounced on the rebound but the flag went up for offside. Noe Bellegarde is down with cramp. “Champions League, you’re having a laugh,” is the chant from the Wolves fans.

07:15 PM GMT

83 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Maatsen’s cross flies harmlessly into the arms of Sa, Semedo did well to stay on his feet and not commit himself up against Maatsen. This must surely be Wolves’ best defensive performance of the season. Martinez almost caught on the ball by Hwang a few yards from goal but Villa get away with it.

07:12 PM GMT

81 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Cunha and Wolves thought they had a four on two against the Villa defence but Onana went to ground and hooked one of his long legs around Cunha to get a piece of the ball. Wolves doubling up well on Bailey again as the Villa winger looks for an opening.

Villa having their longest spell of possession for quite some time but Wolves are defending their box in numbers.

07:09 PM GMT

79 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Cunha whips the free-kick over the wall but also the crossbar. Sarabia is the Wolves playing come off to make way for Hwang. Wolves. Villa running out of time and ideas.

07:07 PM GMT

76 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Bellegarde with a lovely flick around the corner for Cunha to dribble into space. He fails to make it count but the ball breaks free for Bellegarde and Kamara fouled him. Shooting chance for Wolves, 25 yards out left of centre. Hwang is going to be their next change.

07:05 PM GMT

75 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

There will be substantial stoppage time because that change took nearly three minutes. Villa are missing some presence and direction at the top end of the pitch, Malen is not a lone striker.

07:04 PM GMT

74 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Pereira making a double sub: Guedes and Sarabia the two players coming off, replaced by Gomes and Tommy Doyle. The Villa bench are not happy with what they see as delaying tactics from Wolves.

This is a bizarre situation... Guedes walked off and sat down on the bench, before Pereira seemed to change his mind, but with Guedes off the pitch they were unable to make the changes.

So in fact after a right old polava, Guedes and Ait-Nouri are the players substituted. Never seen something like that before.

06:59 PM GMT

The official reason why that Villa goal did not stand

06:59 PM GMT

69 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Cunha tries to drag Wolves up the pitch but he runs down a blind alley and Bogarde does well to usher him away from danger. The flag goes up for offside. Wolves have maybe just quelled that flurry of Villa pressure. Ait Nouri is down with what looks to be cramp.

06:57 PM GMT

66 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Agbadou has been impressive in he last few weeks for Wolves, and he heads clear a Rogers cross with Malen lurking. Villa have another corner though, and they are starting to turn the screw.

Wolves break, but Cunha could not quite connect cleanly with Bellegarde’s inswinging cross.

06:55 PM GMT

64 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Agbadou with a crucial block after Bialey sprinted onto a pull-back and fired a first-time shot at goal. Villa getting closer but Emery does not have many cards to play after making those four half-time changes. Villa win a free-kick, but Wolves defend stoutly and Rogers fouls Cunha. The Villa man has to be careful on a booking.

06:50 PM GMT

59 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Wolves appeal for a penalty after Villa fail to clear their lines from a free-kick. I think the Villa forward may well have kicked through Toti’s foot before getting the ball, but VAR checks and clears the incident.

06:48 PM GMT

57 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Tielemans stings the palms of Sa with a strike from distance. Villa starting to build up a head of steam, maybe fuelled by a sense of injustice over the goal not standing. Not that their players protested too vociferously.

06:46 PM GMT

NO GOAL! Wolves remain in the lead

Malen was not offside, but the goal is not awarded because VAR have judged that Rogers (standing in an offside position) was blocking Semedo and affected the Wolves defender. This will prove contentious.

06:45 PM GMT

52 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Doherty penalised for clipping the heels of Rogers and Villa have a free-kick, 25 yards out and left of centre.

They worked one off the training ground, feeding McGinn down the side of the Wolves defence so he could square for Malen to tap in.

Malen was behind the ball when the cross was played, so this will surely stand...VAR checking.

06:41 PM GMT

50 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

McGinn’s free-kick is far too close to Sa and the Wolves goalkeeper claims easily. Compared with earlier in the season, Villa are now shorn of both strikers and all but one of their centre-backs. They look low on numbers and energy.

06:38 PM GMT

47 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Leon Bailey with a burst down the right but three Wolves shirts converge on him in the box and force him backwards. Pereira will be delighted with the defensive application shown by his team.

06:37 PM GMT

We are back under way in the second half

Quadruple sub from Emery: Onana, Malen, Bailey and Maatsen on for Ramsey, Digne, Watkins and Garcia. That must be a niggle for Watkins.

That tells you exactly what Emery thought of his team’s first-half performance.

06:21 PM GMT

HT: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Wolves fully deserve their lead and they should be further in front. Villa’s second-string defence looks fragile and their forwards have been unable to disturb Wolves’ three centre-backs. The only worry for the home fans is the threat of this being a game of two halves and those missed opportunities being punished.

06:20 PM GMT

45 minutes+4: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Big save from Martinez but another chance goes begging for Wolves. They are finding it so easy to get behind this Villa defence. This time Guedes was shown wide and the angle angle narrowed, but Martinez spread himself and made a crucial stop.

06:17 PM GMT

45 minutes+2: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

We are halfway through four minutes of first-half stoppage time. Watkins looked to be feeling his groin a few moments ago. Bogarde then slides in late in midfield and is booked. The Villa man actually slipped.

06:15 PM GMT

45 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Tielemans showing quick feet and a deft touch in midfield, everything good Villa do is going through him.

Moments later though, Wolves miss a golden chance to double their lead! Villa’s backline is zig-zagged all over the place again, and Guedes is played through by Bellegarde. Guedes took time to steady himself but dragged his shot wide of the far post. A huge let off for Villa.

06:12 PM GMT

41 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Watkins is now back on the pitch and he and Sa are fit to continue. Ramsey then clips Semedo, another Wolves free-kick in a dangerous crossing position. Cracking delivery from Sarabia, which Kamara glances over his own bar for a Wolves corner.

06:08 PM GMT

38 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Lovely delivery from Digne after a short corner, and Doherty’s touch proved crucial otherwise Konsa was scoring with a header from six yards. Kamara slices a shot into the air, claimed by Sa, but Watkins backed into him mid air. Both players sent tumbling are receiving some treatment.

06:07 PM GMT

36 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

An action-packed few miniutes. Aston Villa had two loud appeals for a free-kick in the Wolves half after late challenges on first Rogers and then Watkins.

The Kamara misjudged the flight of a long ball forward and Cunha pounced. He delayed for a split-second which allowed Konsa to recover somewhat, and his shot was saved by Martinez. On the rebound, Guedes dragged his snap shot from 20 yards just wide of the post.

06:04 PM GMT

33 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Another card being shown, this time for Sarabia. I think it may well be for dissent after some sarcastic applause. Doherty sticks tight to Rogers to force him backwards. Wolves have worked ever so hard out of possession. Bellegarde then brushes Watkins aside to regain possession.

06:01 PM GMT

31 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Morgan Rogers has now been booked for tripping Toti after the defender went charging up the pitch. Wolves have the chance to deliver another dangerous cross into the box.

Agbadou was found unmarked at the far post but the offside flag spared Aston Villa. I don’t think the Wolves defender was offside.

05:58 PM GMT

28 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Villa enjoying a long spell of possession but is almost entirely in front of Wolves’ defensive shape. Lovely touch around the corner from Andre in midfield to release Semedo. Watkins, Rogers and Ramsey finding it difficult with minimal space to gallop into at the moment.

05:55 PM GMT

25 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Konsa buys another foul from Sarabia. The game is proving quite bitty which suits Wolves more than it does Villa. A fairly quiet first 25 minutes from Watkins aside from one channel run down the right and cross towards Rogers.

05:53 PM GMT

23 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Villa have problems down both flanks against Arsenal a few weeks ago, and Wolves are continuing to get joy in the wide areas. Lucas Digne called upon to clear a teasing cross for a corner. Sarabia was lurking behind him.

05:50 PM GMT

19 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Wolves concede possession to Villa straight from a throw-in on halfway. The away team then produce a really slick passage of passing from deep in their own half, Ramsey receiving under pressure and then Tielemans cutting through Wolves with an incisive pass. Sa yet to be seriously tested though.

Sarabia then gets the wrong side of Tielemans and is fouled. Wolves feel that should have been a yellow card. Wolves press on though, and have a corner after Cunha’s low cross is turned behind.

05:47 PM GMT

17 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

McGinn shown a yellow card for planting his studs on the foot of Ait Nouri with a late challenge. The home crowd are fully invested in this now after a fairly sedate start to the game.

05:45 PM GMT

15 minutes: Wolves 1 Aston Villa 0

Villa win a couple of corners as they seek an immediate reply but Wolves clear their lines. Villa’s defending on the goal was the kind of thing you expected from a back four who have never played together before.

05:44 PM GMT

GOOOAAALL! Bellegarde fires Wolves into the lead

I saw many Wolves fans questioning his place in the XI today, but Bellegarde has just pierced the Villa back four to score a lovely opening goal. It was a cute pass through from Sarabia and Bellegarde ran off the back off Kamara before drilling the ball beyond Martinez into the near corner with is right foot. That gives Wolves something to protect.

05:40 PM GMT

10 minutes: Wolves 0 Aston Villa 0

Villa starting to crank up the pressure. Garcia stands up a cross to the back stick which almost finds Watkins and from the resulting corner Tielemans’ strike from the edge of the area is deflected over. Sarabia is then fouled by Rogers.

05:38 PM GMT

8 minutes: Wolves 0 Aston Villa 0

Watkins with a low cross towards Rogers but Wolves clear, before McGinn is penalised for handball on halfway.

Villa are soon on the attack again, but Toti made a crucial interception when it seemed that Rogers had slipped Watkins through on goal.

Then the referee blows for Cunha brushing the back of Konsa. The referee has been quite whistle happy thus far.

05:36 PM GMT

6 minutes: Wolves 0 Aston Villa 0

Wolves enjoying some territory with Digne blocking Semedo’s cross. McGinn with a trademark bustling run to move Villa up the pitch and he buys a foul from Doherty. Semedo then clips Digne after some neat Villa passing. Wolves not letting Villa’s strong runners get into their stride, they are fouling early.

05:34 PM GMT

4 minutes: Wolves 0 Aston Villa 0

Konsa with a rather casual piece of control which sells Kamara short, and Guedes was there first to win a free-kick. Wolves’ turn to send a ball into the penalty box. Cunha tries to play a cute one down the side of the Villa defence, but it struck Andre on the heel.

05:32 PM GMT

2 minutes: Wolves 0 Aston Villa 0

An ominous start for Wolves as Jacob Ramsey drives with the ball through midfield inside the first minute, winning Villa a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position left of centre. Tielemans is going to take an inswinger with his right foot.

The referee stops things to have a word with Ramsey and Semedo for blocking. When the free-kick is taken, Tielemans’ delivery is too floaty and Sa claims with ease.

05:31 PM GMT

KICK OFF!

Wolves get the game started, and unusually they are shooting towards the South Bank in the first half.

05:27 PM GMT

The players are in the tunnel

Led Zeppelin playing at Molineux. Robert Plant is a regular matchgoer. Two teams missing key players in the spine of the team, which could make for an open game.

05:19 PM GMT

Pereira’s priorities clear since taking the job

05:12 PM GMT

Pereira confirms Bellegarde will play in midfield

04:53 PM GMT

Why Duran was sold

In this piece, John Percy reveals all regarding Aston Villa’s decision to sell a talented but enigmatic player. He was described by his Villa team-mates as a “bit nuts”.

04:41 PM GMT

Emmanuel Agbadou has impressed Pereira

04:27 PM GMT

Wolves’ record goalscorer Steve Bull in attendance

04:24 PM GMT

The team news assessed

Lots of trickery and attacking talent in the Wolves team but rather like Brighton this lunchtime they look lightweight in midfield without Lamina and Gomes. Matt Doherty as a right-sided centre-back also looks a vulnerability.

Ait-Nouri will look to run at Villa debutant Garcia who starts in place of the injured Matty Cash at right-back. Kamara is filling in at centre-back alongside Konsa.

If there was any remaining speculation regarding Watkins, it will be quelled by the fact he starts.

04:17 PM GMT

Wolves team and subs

04:16 PM GMT

Aston Villa team and subs

04:14 PM GMT

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04:10 PM GMT

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04:09 PM GMT

Attentions turn to on-pitch matters for Aston Villa and Wolves

Just the small matter of a Midlands derby at Wolves to distract Aston Villa fans from a frantic end to the transfer window which has seen Jhon Duran depart and potentially three forwards arrive.

Donyell Malen is already in the building, a loan deal for Marcus Rashford appears to be progressing while the club continues to be linked with Marco Asensio and Joao Felix. 

Arsenal approached Villa regarding Ollie Watkins earlier this week, but Villa selling their front-line striker as well as Duran appears unthinkable. Watkins to Arsenal is almost certainly on a non-starter as a result, although all the while the window remains open there will be some anxiety among fans. Watkins started against Celtic and is expected to do so again this evening.

Villa have sometimes struggled after European exertions, and have won just two of their last six Premier League games. They should be energised by their 3-2 victory over Celtic, which confirmed automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16.

Wolves’ new manager bounce under Vitor Pereira has dissipated, winning just one point from their last five league games and they were largely toothless last time out against Arsenal when they had a man advantage.

They are also missing their first-choice engine room with Mario Lemina injured and Joao Gomes suspended for picking up two yellow cards against Arsenal. Matheus Cunha is another player who has been linked with a big move this month, but that situation seems to have cooled down even if Wolves are yet to sign up to a proposed new contract. Villa are short of central defenders with Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres both on the sidelines.

Wolves will kick off this match in 19th. Villa can go level on points with Chelsea having played a game more and need three points to propel their bid to finish the season in a European place.

Full team news on the way shortly.