Jorgen Strand Larsen had thought he put Wolves 1-0 up in the first half, but the goal was disallowed in the end, and then unfortunately for the Old Gold, it was the home side who would later take the spoils.
It was just Rob Edwards’ second game in charge, but there were noticeable differences already.
Wolves looked better defensively, and going forward, they looked like a threat. There were multiple moments where they could have scored, but Larsen’s ruled-out goal was perhaps the best chance of the game for them.
Jhon Arias’ position was deemed to be affecting Emiliano Martinez, and that was enough for VAR to agree with the linesman’s decision of offside.
There will not be many complaints about it, and now Strand Larsen has given his thoughts following the end of the game.
Wolves were so close to going 1-0 up against Aston Villa 😩
Jorgen Strand Larsen felt Wolves were the better team vs Aston Villa
Wolves deserved much more than a defeat in the West Midlands derby, as defensively they had a lot of heart.
Going forward, they looked more threatening than their opponents, but as has been the case too many times this season, they lacked decisiveness in the final third.
In the end, Aston Villa’s ability to consistently score from range would thwart Rob Edwards’ hopes of a win, and Wolves’ winless run now extends to 17 matches.
Jorgen Strand Larsen has given his verdict after the match, stating his disappointment with the result.
Speaking after the game, Strand Larsen said (via BBC Sport), “First of all, I’m really disappointed because we deserved more. The last two games, I think we played two really good first halves. I deserve a goal; the team deserves a goal.
“The quality from them stops us. It’s just really annoying, and I’m lost for words. We played a really good game, maybe the best of the season. It’s the first time I’m feeling fresh again since my injury.
“The staff have been excellent; they’ve come in with energy. Conceding a screamer from outside the box is not anyone’s fault. We are really unlucky. Luck will come when you play good, and hopefully it will turn a bit for us now. It’s not an easy situation to be in, and it affects our lives. We’re big lads, and we’re trying our best. I want the fanbase to keep believing.
“We showed up today. We were the best team for most of the game. Things are going against us now. It looks like sometimes they give it offside and sometimes not when someone is in front of the goalie. We need to keep going and believe in ourselves.”
Who do you think was Wolves’ best performer in the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa?
Rob Edwards will no doubt be disappointed, just as Jorgen Strand Larsen is, but the Norwegian saying he feels fresh again is a good omen for the upcoming fixtures.
And the form of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is another, as fans questioned Edwards’ choice to substitute him.
Jorgen Strand Larsen looked fitter than he has all season
There were plenty of positives for Rob Edwards to take away, with the main one being that for the second week in a row, Wolves were difficult to break down.
However, another positive was certainly how Jorgen Strand Larsen looked. While the Norwegian struggled to get into the game in the second half, there were quite a few moments in the opening 45 that showed the quality he has.
While he had one goal ruled out, there was another chance in the 45th minute that saw him force an excellent stop out of Martinez.
Wolves found themselves actually causing problems for the Villa defence, and with Strand Larsen back to full fitness, that is only a positive sign.
Before the match, Strand Larsen was urged to add more ‘nastiness’ to his game, and in that first 45 he certainly made things tough for the Villa defence.
However, with the second half being quieter from him, he needs to learn to sustain this type of display for much longer periods.
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