Carew rescues Villa

John Carew's late goal earned Aston Villa a 2-2 draw with Wolves in a thrilling Midlands derby at Villa Park.

Wolves had threatened to pull off a famous win after coming from behind to go 2-1 in front at the break, but Carew struck eight minutes from time to secure Villa a point.

Villa got off to a flying start with Carew converting Ashley Young's cross after just 16 minutes.

However, Wolves hit back and drew level seven minutes later when Jody Craddock netted his fifth goal of the campaign.

An unfortunate own goal by James Milner gifted Wolves the lead on 38 minutes, but Villa finally made their dominance count on 82 minutes when Carew scored his second of the game to ensure a share of the spoils.

England coach Fabio Capello was at Villa Park to survey the five possible candidates in the Villa side for his World Cup squad this summer.

The home side came close to taking the lead after only four minutes. Carlos Cuellar played the ball into the feet of Carew and he turned past Christophe Berra and fired a low shot a couple of feet wide of the far post.

It needed a superb tackle from Wolves skipper Karl Henry to halt Milner in full flight as he prepared to shoot from 15 yards out.

Opener

And it came as no surprise when a quickfire counter-attack led to Carew putting Villa ahead after 17 minutes with his 12th goal of the campaign.

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

Wolves responded well to this setback and Matt Jarvis had a curling 20-yard effort deflected just wide.

Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov became the first player to be yellow carded after 23 minutes for a challenge on Kevin Doyle - and from the resulting free-kick Wolves drew level.

David Jones played the ball into the danger area and, although Ronald Zubar failed to make proper contact with his shot, Craddock was in the right position to beat Brad Friedel from close range.

It was the fifth goal of the season for Craddock who this week was offered a new contract by Wolves.

Villa were now finding it more difficult to break down their opponents and after 39 minutes they fell behind to an own goal from Milner.

Jones made the initial break into the Villa area and then continued his run into the six-yard box after releasing the overlapping Jarvis.

He attacked the eventual cross and Milner, under pressure, could only deflect the ball into his own net.

Downing could have equalised but saw his downward header from Young's cross bounce up and over the crossbar.

Guedioura was yellow-carded three minutes before half-time for a challenge on Petrov.

Switch

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

Villa were dominating play territorially and Hahnemann punched away a powerfully driven cross from Heskey aimed at Young.

Hahnemann held on to a header from Carew from a Milner centre although it lacked any great power.

Wolves brought on on-loan Chelsea midfielder Michael Mancienne in place of Ward after 64 minutes.

Elokobi made a vital block on a close range Heskey header from a Young centre.

O'Neill brought on Marc Albrighton in place of Dunne after 72 minutes with Cuellar reverting to centre-back.

With seven minutes remaining, Carew struck for the second time to bring Villa level.

Heskey's flick-on found Sidwell and his low shot was deflected past Hahnemann by the Norwegian international.