Leon Bailey left the pitch in tears after an injury-time howler cost Aston Villa a derby victory.
The Jamaica international had to be dragged off the ground by his team-mates as he lay prostrate after failing to find an empty net with the goal gaping. Villa had been on the back foot for large chunks of this but had grabbed a lifeline when Danny Ings jumped off the bench to level Daniel Podence’s early opener.
And it looked as though they had snatched victory in the dying seconds as he charged through and took the ball around Wolves ’ keeper Jose Sa. But the chance was on his right foot and he failed to connect properly, sending the ball dribbling the wrong side of the post.
Bailey was distraught at the end but Villa boss Unai Emery absolved him of any blame.
He said: “He was crying. He was very upset. But he took responsibility. I am very happy with his commitment. He had three chances against Liverpool and he’s now playing for 90 minutes. That’s good. I am happy with him.”
Wolves had led since the 12th minute when Podence produced a delightful shimmy inside the area before finding the net with a lovely left-foot finish. It deflated Emi Martinez, Villa’s Argentine keeper who was making his first appearance since lifting the World Cup in Qatar.
He walked onto the pitch and was given a rousing reception before kick-off but his first job after resuming his domestic career was to pick the ball out of the net.
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Wolves deserved their advantage at the interval but lost their fluency in the second-half as Villa pressed for the equaliser. Ings was introduced from the bench and needed just one chance to grab a share of the spoils.
Wolves’ defender Max Kilman temporarily went missing and Villa centre-half Tyrone Mings seized upon his absence. The stopper found Ings with a simple ball over the top and the striker found the net with a trademark finish.
That looked to be that. But Martinez blocked a late effort from sub Rayan Ait-Nouri and then Bailey fluffed his lines just seconds before the final whistle.
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui said: “They scored in an unlucky play for us. They pushed a lot - they’re a good team - we picked up a point but we are a little bit disappointed.
“We had control for 60 minutes but we lost Podence at half-time and without the ball we were tired. They had a chance to win but we had three very clear counter attacks to close out the match. They had that moment but we overcame Aston Villa for a lot of this match.”
Villa boss Emery added: “I can be happy after the second half but I’m disappointed as well because we have to improve over 90 minutes. We changed in the second half, we tried to play with our heart and I think the supporters helped us to push and I think we deserved to draw.”
