Carew rescues Villa as late strike frustrates Wolves

Aston Villa salvaged a 2-2 draw against Premier League strugglers Wolves thanks to John Carew’s late equaliser on Saturday.

Martin O’Neill’s team looked set for an embarrassing home defeat against their local rivals after James Milner’s first half own goal left them trailing until the final minutes at Villa Park.

Carew had given Villa an early lead but Jody Craddock equalised before Milner’s mistake put the visitors in front.

Fortunately for Villa, Norway striker Carew was on hand to grab the equaliser with eight minutes to play.

Even the late leveller was hardly a cause for celebration as Champions League hopefuls Villa missed a chance to draw level with fourth-placed Tottenham ahead of Saturday’s late matches.

Wolves moved four points clear of the relegation zone but that gap could be narrowed depending on Burnley and Hull’s results this weekend.

O’Neill suffered a pre-match blow when Gabriel Agbonlahor was ruled out with the groin injury suffered during the midweek win at Wigan.

Still, Villa kicked off as the only side unbeaten in the Premier League in 2010 and they were quickly on top.

Carlos Cuellar picked out Carew and he turned past Christophe Berra and fired a low shot just past the far post.

Villa’s pressure told as Carew put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute with his 12th goal of the season.

Milner found Ashley Young on the left and his low cross was turned home by Carew from close range.

That should have been the signal for a Villa rout but captain Stiliyan Petrov conceded a free-kick in the 23rd minute with a rash foul on Kevin Doyle and, from the resulting set-piece, Wolves drew level.

David Jones curled an inswinging delivery in the penalty area and, although Ronald Zubar miscued his shot, the ball deflected perfectly for Craddock to shoot past Brad Friedel for his fifth goal of the season.

That setback rocked Villa and they conceded again in the 39th minute as Wolves got another lucky break.

Jones played in Matthew Jarvis down the left edge of the penalty area and carried on his run into the six-yard box. Jarvis tried to find the midfielder with his cross but Milner, stretching to clear, got there first and prodded the ball into his own net.

Stewart Downing should have equalised moments later but saw his downward header from Young’s cross bounce up and over the crossbar.

Villa enjoyed most of the possession after half-time as Wolves tried to hold onto their lead.

Richard Dunne climbed above the Wolves defence to meet a corner from Young but directed his header just past a post.

Wolves goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann punched away a cross from Emile Heskey aimed at Young, then held a weak header from Carew as Villa’s fans began to show their frustration.

Just as Villa looked to have run out of ideas, Heskey laid a pass into Steve Sidwell’s path in the 82nd minute and the substitute’s shot was turned in by Carew.