BOUBACAR KAMARA set Villa boss Unai Emery on his way to a fifth straight home league victory with a strike of rare quality.
The France international collected a low centre from John McGinn midway through the second half to consign Wolves’ new boss Rob Edwards to his second successive defeat.
He steadied himself with his left foot and then let fly – leaving visiting keeper Sam Johnstone grasping at thin air as Villa maintained their stunning recent form.
Emery’s side are second in the form table to Arsenal and have only lost once in their last eight outings – tasting defeat at Anfield to Liverpool.
And they have won every other one of those contests – although this one was far more difficult than many predicted against the Premier League’s bottom club.
Wolves arrived at Villa Park still in search of their first victory of the season – cast adrift at the foot of the table with just two points.
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However, they looked competitive in this and made Villa work hard for the three points.
Indeed, visiting supporters will bemoan the intervention of home keeper Emi Martinez who made a crucial stop on the stroke of halftime that enabled Kamara to perform his heroics.
Jorgen Strand Larsen pounced at the near post after a Jackson Tchatchoua cross from the right but the Argentine palmed that around for a corner.
Then, Martinez really proved his worth. Yerson Mosquera was on his own and headed goalwards.
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Replays showed that Martinez got a faint touch to the ball and pushed it onto the crossbar.
The game almost exploded into life six minutes into the second half with both sides enjoying chances.
First, Villa broke and Donyell Malen latched onto a long ball forwards. He beat Emmanuel Agbadou but Toti came across to block.
Then, Wolves’s Jean Ricner-Bellegarde beat Matty Cash to a ball down the left.
He made ground and then fed Strand Larsen only for a superb last-ditch Pau Torres intervention to prevent the Norwegian from slotting into an empty net.
Martinez again pulled off a good save from Bellegarde – although a Wolves’ player blocked his line of vision.
But Villa eventually found a way through – although it will be mired in controversy as Gomes was stranded up-field holding his ankle when McGinn got the ball on the right from Malen.
Kamara did the rest, leaving Wolves to lick their wounds once more and leave Villa dreaming of what might be.
