Wolves won a point at Villa Park last night thanks to John Richards’ sixth goal in four games but moved nearer the bottom of the First Division. Because Burnley won last night. Blues, Wolves and the Lancashire club are locked on 22 points but Blues have the best goal average and have a game in hand of Wolves and two in hand of Burnley. The relegation issue now seems almost certainly the preserve of these three clubs and Sheffield United for Arsenal poached a 1-0 victory over League leaders Liverpool at Highbury to open up a five point gap between themselves and the bottom four.

Any hopes Blues had that Villa would do them a good turn by beating Wolves vanished when Richards put Wolves ahead in the 53rd minute.

Ray Graydon equalised with a penalty six minutes later but Villa never looked like scoring again.

It was a tense, but untidy game badly refereed by John Goggins of Manchester. who failed to control the frequent and illegal tackling from behind.

Villa suggested they would win comfortably.

In patches they looked as if they could overwhelm Wolves but the Wolves defence was firm and strong, if at times over-zealous.

The several Blues’ supporters in the crowd were ready to acknowledge, if not cheer, a Villa goal after 15 minutes.

Nicholl rose above everybody else in the goalmouth to head a corner from but Villa McDonald into the net. But the referee said the big centre half was aided by a push and the effort was disallowed.

This attack came after a spell of wild tackling and two dubious off-the-ball incidents which had the Villa fans howling with anger.

Little was the chief sufferer, being brought down by several tackles from behind but it was in the fifth minute, when Gould brought down Gidman when the ball was yards away, that the crowd became really upset.

Then the veteran Wolves forward bowled over McDonald. again behind the referee’s back and again not spotted by either of the linesmen.

But, as the game quietened, Parkes saved from McDonald, Little and Gray as Villa’s sweeping attacks often penetrated Wolves’ defence.

Parkes was fielding the ball well but, when one quicksilver move involving Gidman, Graydon and a hook shot from Little looked like beating him, Sunderland headed clear.

Wolves were attempting to attack as well but the service to the strikers was poor and it was again Villa who came closest to scoring. McAlle failed to cut out Graydon’s through-pass but Little sent a cross-shot just wide.

Towards the end of the first half Wolves had exerted more pressure and Ross twice had to clear hurriedly, but it was Villa who began the second half on attack and within five minutes Sunderland was cautioned for stopping McDonald by wrestling him to the ground.

Two minutes after this the powerful Daley came on for the slight O’Hara and immediately helped in Richards’ goal.

The Wolves supporters were criticising Daley for holding the ball too long and taking it away from the Villa goal when he pushed it to Parkin.

The fullback crossed high to the edge of the penalty area. Bell challenged successfully and the ball broke to Richards, who, sprinting forward on the left, had a free shot which he put between Burridge and his left hand post.

Villa’s answer was not long in coming but they needed the penalty to equalise.

McAlle tackled Gray. who had slipped the ball past him. The centre forward then dived elegantly over him. I thought it was a penalty but that Gray’s attempt to make sure gave it a questionable quality.

Graydon waited until Wolves’ protests had been turned aside before trashing the ball to Parkes’ right hand into the net.

Bell threatened to win the match for Wolves but put a header wide and saw Burridge save a half volley .