Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Villa by two goals to one, and had the best of the play and also of the luck.

It has been confidently asserted that in the front rank the Villa would be able to hold their own with any other team, and that whatever weakness marked their efforts would be observable in the defensive department; yet, curiously enough, the result of their first big encounter proves that the positions of strength and weakness are reversed, and that the main cause of their defeat at Wolverhampton was the inertness, the hesitancy, and the fumbling of the forwards.

They started well, and scored a brilliant goal by Albert Brown, and had many other fine opportunities, but were ultimately out generalled and beaten by a team which certainly did not play up to their former reputation.

There was more dash and "go" about the winners than the Villa showed, and had it not been for a very fine defence the score would have been much heavier.

In Evans the Villa have found a thoroughly good man-strong, sturdy, and resourceful, and he will probably be found to be a most invaluable partner to Cox.

All three half-backs performed well, and Cowan gave the crowd a first-class exposition of finished play. No doubt when Hodgetts and Paton are included in the team the vanguard will be wonderfully strengthened; but such an exhibition as Saturday’s must be woefully disappointing to Villa partisans.

It is said that the team will improve from this time forward; the improvement is very much needed, as Notts County are coming next Saturday, and they will require a lot of besting in the Villa's present form.

Frank Coulton's accident is much to be deplored, and it is feared that he has played his last first-class match. He is one of the best backs the Villa have ever had, and has done splendid service for the Perry Barr team.