**Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard warned his players they are playing for their futures after they lost at Wolves - a result that boosted the hosts’ hopes of playing in Europe next season.**

Wolves had looked in control when Spain defender Jonny struck a crisp half-volley after only seven minutes before Villa defender Ashley Young inadvertently headed into his own net to make it 2-0.

A controversial 86th-minute penalty from England striker Ollie Watkins, after he was fouled by goalkeeper Jose Sa, gave Villa hope of leaving Molineux with a draw.

They had a chance to grab an unlikely point, but Matty Cash’s 95th-minute volley was saved by Sa.

However, Gerrard, whose side have now lost three games in a row for the first time since he replaced the sacked Dean Smith in November, was unhappy with his players.

“It’s a game we never turned up for,” the former England captain said. “We’re playing Wolves, a local rival, but you can’t come to derbies at half time.

“We’re looking like a 45-minute team and that’s on me - we gifted Wolves two goals. I’ve got to fix it and I will fix it.

“The players in the building have to help me fix it now. If not, we will get players in who will help me fix it.”

The victory took Wolves above West Ham and five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal in the final Champions League spot - although the Gunners have three games in hand.

Wolves dreaming of European return

For Wolves, it was a third victory in seven games, even if in the end it was tighter than they might have liked.

They are now seventh in the Premier League and, if they stay there, will qualify for next season’s Europa Conference League - as long as Crystal Palace do not win the FA Cup (in which case the Eagles would play in Europe instead).

Wolves are trying to secure European football for the second time in four seasons after reaching the Europa League quarter-finals in 2019-20.

Despite being without midfielder Ruben Neves, out for a month with a knee injury, and suspended striker Raul Jimenez after his red card against Leeds, Bruno Lage’s side looked a threat every time they attacked against a surprisingly vulnerable Villa defence.

Wolves went ahead after only seven minutes when Villa’s John McGinn slipped and lost possession before team-mate Ezri Konsa also fell over. That enabled the hosts to counter, with Jonny scoring with a great strike after Lucas Digne had blocked Fabio Silva’s shot.

It was Jonny’s second goal in consecutive matches in only his sixth appearance of the season, after being out for 10 months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 36th minute in fortunate circumstances when Young, on in place of the injured Digne, slipped when trying to deal with Marcal’s left-wing cross and headed into his own net.

No Wolves collapse this week, just

Wolves threw away a 2-0 lead against Leeds before losing 3-2 on 18 March, and their fans would have been fearing a repeat late on at Molineux.

Villa’s best chances in the first half came from long distance, with Philippe Coutinho narrowly firing a free-kick over and Leon Bailey having an excellent effort tipped over by goalkeeper Jose Sa.

Watkins, who scored for England in their 3-0 win over Ivory Coast on Tuesday, twice had chances to halve the deficit before Wolves substitute Hwang Hee-chan almost added another for the hosts within two minutes of coming on, but shot wide.

When Watkins was fouled by Sa, he converted the penalty for his eighth Premier League goal of the season to set up a frantic finale. Poland right-back Cash had the chance to equalise, but his injury-time volley was excellently saved by Sa.

“It’s the same feeling we had against Leeds,” said Wolves boss Bruno Lage. “That’s why 2-0 is so dangerous, especially in this competition.

“I’m happy because we won. We played the way we wanted to play. The game plan was perfect.

“We need that mentality to kill the game, score the third goal and not to give hope to the opponent.”

Villa dropped to 10th in the Premier League but do not have much to play for, now 13 points behind Wolves and 14 clear of the relegation zone.