Wolves | 2-3 | Aston Villa |
(2-1) | ||
Kightly 21 | Bent (pen) 11 | |
Edwards 31 | Keane 51, 84 | |
Game of the day in the Barclays Premier League 2011/12 on the afternoon of Saturday 21st January 2012, was surely the pulsating, see-sawing derby clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa at Molineux. Despite having led 2-1 at half time, a Robbie Keane brace saw Aston Villa come away with three points following a 3-2 victory at their near neighbours.
An 11th minute Darren Bent penalty got Villa off to a dream start, but Wolves were impressive for the rest of the first half, and came back strongly with a goal each from Kightly (21) and Edwards (31) turning the match around in their favour.
So the half would finish, with the hosts 2-1 up, and looking like taking the local bragging rights.
But after watching him make a career of scoring debut goals, few would have discounted Robbie Keane’s chances of scoring on his first start for Villa since joining on loan from the USA in a bid to retain his fitness. Keane struck twice in the second period, on 51 and 84 minutes, turning the match once more in the visitors favour, and giving them a 3-2 lead.
Both of Keane’s goals – which came either side of a straight red card for Wolves’ Karl Henry for an unsightly kick-0ut at Albrighton – were superbly taken, and, with the player having added little up until his 51st minute opener, demonstrated well what the republic of Ireland man can do for a team: score goals from limited opportunities.
The match finished 3-2 to Villa, meaning that Wolves end the game in the bottom three, with both Blackburn and Bolton picking up a point or three. Villa move to 11th, with a good chance of going top half providing they can tighten things up a little at the back.