Surging Aston Villa target winless Wolves to continue momentum

Aston Villa return to Premier League duty on Sunday with a sense of momentum that has been hard to ignore, and their midweek victory over Young Boys only deepened the impression that they have accelerated into a different gear.

Unai Emery has been rotating smartly across competitions and the result has been a team that plays with assurance, clarity and a constant threat in transition.

Their win in Europe restored the sharpness that seemed to slip before the international break and it also extended 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 evolved from a promising link-up to a consistent source of goals.

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

The growing confidence inside the squad 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.

Wolves approach this fixture from a very different angle and the tone of their campaign has been shaped heavily by missed moments, late errors and long spells in matches where 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 twelve league games and remains without a win.

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 on their travels all 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.

The contrast between Villa’s conviction and Wolves’ struggle for stability sets the backdrop to a meeting that feels naturally tilted towards the home side, although Villa are aware that this season has already punished complacency.

Even so, their 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.