Aston Villa 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Player ratings as woodwork denies both Villans & Wolves victory

Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers played out an eventful 0-0 draw at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon, although both sides did have chances to win the game.

The first half was a fairly uneventful affair, although the hosts did enjoy the better of the chances, with Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa both rattling the crossbar. Villa continued to dominate the first 45 minutes, but the two sides went into the half-time break all square.

Wolves gave Villa a fright just before the hour-mark, when Conor Coady powered a header onto the post, and Romain Saiss unbelievably missed the rebound from beneath the crossbar. Coady came close again on 76 minutes, but Emi Martinez somehow turned his close-range strike around the post.

Watkins and Konsa had chances to snatch the win at the death, but that was as good as it got in a stretched second half, and both sides had to settle for just a point.

Let's check out the player ratings from an intense battle at Villa Park.

Aston Villa player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Emi Martinez (GK) - 8/10 - Absolutely nothing to do in the first period. Decent save early in the second half to repel Neto's fierce strike. Produced a brilliant reflex stop from close range to deny Coady a certain goal.

Ahmed Elmohamady (RB) - 6/10 - Wasted a couple of good crossing positions with poor final deliveries. Left his post unguarded when Coady almost punished the Villans.

Ezri Konsa (CB) - 7/10 - Smashed the crossbar from close range while on the stretch. Close. Kept Jose quiet and limited the striker's influence on the match.

Tyrone Mings (CB) - /10 - Flew across the turf to put both the ball and Neto into touch, winning a throw in the process. Such a physically intimidating yet intelligent defender. Went off injured at the end.

Matt Targett (LB) - 7/10 - Produced a couple of dodgy passes early on. You just know Jack Grealish would normally be on the end of them, though. Defensively resolute.

2. Midfielders

John McGinn (CM) - 7/10 - Set the tempo early on with some biting challenges. Such an energetic and technically gifted footballer. Spread play and broke the lines with clever passes. All action.

Douglas Luiz (CM) - 7/10 - So good at spraying those diagonal passes left and right, hitting his target every time. Kept Villa ticking.

Morgan Sanson (CM) - 6/10 - Tidy in possession. Tried too much on the edge of the Wolves box and ended up picking up a yellow for a poor recovery challenge. Subbed after an hour.

3. Forwards

Bertrand Traore (RW) - 6/10 - Whipped in a great cross which almost led to the opener, but Konsa misfired. Not at his best today.

Ollie Watkins (ST) - 7/10 - Left the crossbar trembling with a thunderous drive from distance. Too selfless soon after when squaring instead of shooting in front of goal. A constant menace and a tireless runner.

Trezeguet (LW) - 6/10 - Did his defensive work well, doubling up on Semedo and Neto to give Targett a hand. Didn't offer much offensive threat.

4. Substitutes

Ross Barkley (CM) - 5/10

Keinan Davis (ST) - 6/10

Jacob Ramsey (RW) - 6/10

Wolves player ratings

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Rui Patricio (GK) - 6/10 - Could only watch as the ball struck his woodwork twice in the first half, but had little to do other than survive those two minor scares.

Leander Dendoncker (CB) - 6/10 - Took an early knock and never quite looked physically comfortable afterwards. Read the game brilliantly to charge out of defence, win the ball and carry it forwards. Solid after a difficult start.

Conor Coady (CB) - 8/10 - Led the backline with his usual no-nonsense attitude. Headed away plenty of aerial balls and did his best to nullify Watkins. Smacked the post with a great header. Missed another great chance late on.

Romain Saiss (CB) - 6/10 - Did well against the trickery of Traore, offering him little in the way of space or joy. Somehow missed from underneath the crossbar, turning the ball over. incredible.

6. Wing-Backs & Midfielders

Nelson Semedo (RWB) - 6/10 - Gave away a couple of needless free-kicks in the opening exchanges and looked rather sluggish when getting back to do his defensive duties. Dangerous going forward.

Ruben Neves (CM) - 7/10 - Up for the battle and didn't give his opponents a moment of peace. Wolves' only hope of creating anything dangerous. Typically resourceful on the ball.

Joao Moutinho (CM) - 6/10 - Squandered a nice break away with an awful and overly ambitious clip over the Villa defence. A few more wasted passes left his boot over the next hour or so.

Jonny Castro (LWB) - 6/10 - Defended well and gave Elmohamady little space to manoeuvre. Couldn't make much of an impact going forward.

7. Forwards

Pedro Neto (RW) - 7/10 - Fairly anonymous in the first half, and couldn't find a way past Targett. Stung Martinez's palms in the second half with a rapid counter and vicious drive. Beautiful delivery to plant the ball on Coady's head.

Willian Jose (ST) - 6/10 - Dropped in deep to win the ball back and press the Villa midfield, always looking to set his wingers in motion. Subbed towards the end of the second half.

Adama Traore (LW) - 6/10 - Kept quiet by Villa's deep defensive line, leaving him unable to find space to penetrate. Subdued.

8. Substitutes

Fabio Silva (ST) - 6/10