Wolves' decision to prioritise a match in Bratislava over a local battle in Birmingham helped Aston Villa move within three games of a second trip to Wembley inside a year.
In his team’s 21st game of the season, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo decided to change his entire starting XI and hand chances to a number of second-string and young players – a bold move for a club without a major trophy since 1980, and with Midlands bragging rights at stake. Nuno would argue that with a Europa League campaign in full swing – they won 2-1 at Slovan Bratislava last Thursday – something had to give.
Goals either side of half-time from Anwar El Ghazi and Ahmed Elmohamady were enough to see Villa through, though Wolves briefly equalised through Patrick Cutrone.
With his side 2-1 down, Pedro Neto took exception to being substituted and was shoved towards the dugout by Nuno for his reaction.
Ahead of Thursday’s quarter-final draw, Villa will be eyeing another showpiece at the national stadium following their Championship play-off final victory over Derby there in May.
Despite the fierce nature of this local rivalry, and the fact more than 5,000 Wolves fans had made the short trip to Villa Park, Nuno gave all his key men a breather.
In the middle of a run of seven games in 23 days across three competitions, Nuno made the decision to risk local pride in order to focus on the club’s Premier League and Europa League efforts.
Three Wolves players made their senior debuts, including 16-year-old forward Chem Campbell, who became the second-youngest debutant in the club’s history.
Villa also made nine changes, but boss Dean Smith still fielded a side containing plenty of experience – Conor Hourihane, Henri Lansbury, Ahmed Elmohamady and Neil Taylor all made the starting XI, while Mahmoud Trezeguet and Douglas Luiz were retained from the side beaten 3-0 at Manchester City last Saturday.
It was no surprise to see Villa quickly take control of the game, as their greater power and nous left Wolves looking shaky. Once again, on-loan Real Madrid centre-back Jesus Vallejo appeared vulnerable as he struggles to adapt to English football.
Trezeguet might have given the home side the lead in the 11th minute when Hourihane played a pass inside 19-year-old wing-back Dion Sanderson, only for Max Kilman to charge across on the cover and make a timely block.
Wolves struggled to string passes together, though Campbell found himself in space on the right before shooting well wide with his left foot.
Villa got the goal their superiority deserved midway through the half when the other Wolves wing-back, this time Ruben Vinagre, was also caught out of position.
Lansbury’s reverse pass found El Ghazi inside the box, and though John Ruddy took some of the sting from the shot, he could not stop it trickling over the line. Wolves’ No2 goalkeeper may reflect that he should have done better.
Soon after half-time, young Villa forward Keinan Davis came off injured after falling awkwardly just outside the penalty area – and moments later, Wolves scored a surprise equaliser.
Luiz was robbed in midfield by Perry, allowing Cutrone to move towards the Villa goal. The Italian released Perry to his left, and drifted into space to tap in Perry’s cross from close range. As with Villa’s opener, the marking and goalkeeping were well below par.
No matter for Villa, who needed less than three minutes to regain their lead. Lansbury’s free-kick was aimed to the near post, where Elmohamady tussled for the ball with Bruno Jordao and claimed the final touch that beat Ruddy.
Back in control, Villa nearly threw away their lead again when Taylor’s woeful back-pass let in Cutrone, whose first touch was too heavy, giving Jed Steer the chance to redeem himself and save the shot with his legs.
Villa continued to create the better openings and El Ghazi squandered two half-chances to make the tie safe.
Neto had been quiet but was perhaps unlucky not to win a penalty when a thrilling run down the right ended with him being closed down by Taylor and El Ghazi, perhaps unfairly. It was to be Neto’s last contribution and when he was replaced by Flavio Cristovao with 13 minutes left, he showed his irritation and was given a push in the back by Nuno in response.
Shortly afterwards, Lansbury put a header wide when all alone inside the box as Villa pushed for the third. With six minutes of injury time added, Wolves kept believing and Cutrone wasted another good chance, sending a left-foot volley wide.