Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jonny, center right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa at the Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, England, Saturday, April 2, 2022. (Isaac Parkin/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) - Ollie Watkins' late goal from the penalty spot wasn't enough for Aston Villa as Wolverhampton held on to win 2-1 and move to seventh in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Wolves maintained its European charge with first-half goals coming from Jonny's strike and Ashley Young's own goal.
Watkins pulled a goal back in the 86th.
Mid-table Villa slipped to 13 points behind Wolves, which leapfrogged West Ham to sit just two points adrift of the top five.
Even without the banned Raul Jimenez and injured Ruben Neves, Wolves tore into Villa to take a seventh-minute lead with Jonny rifling into the top corner from 12 yards.
Nine minutes before the break, the hosts grabbed a second when Marcal was left with too much space on the left and his cross was headed into his own net by Young.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers' Francisco Trincao, left, and Aston Villa's Lucas Digne battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa at the Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, England, Saturday, April 2, 2022. (David Davies/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jonny, right, scores the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa at the Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, England, Saturday, April 2, 2022. (Isaac Parkin/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, right, argues with Wolverhampton Wanderers players during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa at the Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, England, Saturday, April 2, 2022. (Isaac Parkin/PA via AP)
The Associated Press