Stewart Downing’s well taken opening goal was cancelled out by Matthew Jarvis’ 2nd half in-swinger that evaded everyone, including Brad Friedel, but cometh the hour, cometh, er, Emile Heskey to nod in a late winner in emphatic style, grabbing all three points and fifth place in the Premier League.

It was a game that started off brightly, a fairly even affair, Wolves clearly keen to press for an early advantage while the home support were still in good voice. Villa absorbed the early blows well, remaining well organised and focused.

The opening goal came in the 25th minute, the result of some good work by Heskey in the middle, feeding the ball out to Albrighton on the right who hit a vicious, low cross across the face of goal where Downing had timed his run to the far post to perfection and side-footed in with Hahnemann helpless to prevent it.

Villa saw out the rest of the half, just edging most of the key statistics, keeping Wolves at bay without too much trouble. The only blot on the copy book being Stephen Warnock’s booking early in the half which would provide a point of weakness later in the game.

Whatever Mick McCarthy said at half time, it worked, Wolves came out looking much more positive from the first whistle of the second half and knocked Villa out of their rhythm. Jarvis capped a period of pressure with one of those fiendish crosses to the far post that need only the slightest of touches to send goalward, but if left alone curl in at the far post. The latter occurred.

Eric Lichaj must have cursed his bad luck as he was preparing to come on for what would have been his Premier League debut, presumably for Stephen Warnock, who might have thanked his lucky stars for receiving a final warning, instead of the 2nd yellow it might have been for silly late tackle earlier in the 2nd half.

Houllier decided to hold off on the switch, electing to bring Gabby Agbonlahor on for the fading Marc Alrbighton in the 67th minute. Curiously, it was a straight swap, Gabby playing on the right, Ashley Young remaining up top with Emile Heskey.

In fairness, it wasn’t a system that appeared to be working very well, although Young’s pace through the middle continued to give Wolves something to think about while they pushed forward, looking for a winner.

Houllier elected to shore up the middle with four minutes of normal time left, bringing Steve Sidwell on to replace the hopelessly exhausted Petrov, whose desperate challenges were becoming a liability. Petrov looked a little surprised as he searched for a colleague to pass the armband to, but plus one to Houllier for making the changes that are needed regardless of status and rank.

Sidwell wasn’t directly involved in Heskey’s winner two minutes later, but Stephen Warnock, who would surely have been replaced earlier if not for the goal, was the provider, sitting a lovely ball up for Heskey to show off a text book example of how to rise up and dispatch the ball with power and determination. He really is a player who looks re-born since Houllier arrived, although it remains too early to get carried away.

Ultimately, for me, it was a show of character that won the points. In recent times, Villa would surely have failed to grab the winner and may even have succumbed to the home team’s pressure. Credit has to be given to the players, especially Ashley Young who is clearly taking up the mantle of leader, but also to Houllier, who is probably already addressing one of MON’s biggest shortcomings: how to make changes to get back into a game.

Although there were a number of commendable performances throughout the team, Reo-Coker and Carlos Cueller deserve a mention, Emile Heskey must be given the final word for showing that there’s some life in the old dog yet and that he’s definitely got a part to play in this season.

Harry Redknapp will surely have reason for concern. After being dumped out of the Carling Cup in humiliating fashion at home by Arsenal, losing at West Ham yesterday, he has to deal with Twente’s visit on Wednesday night in the Champions League. He could surely do without the renaissance of Emile Heskey right now.