Cort blunts languid Villa

Once mascot at Newcastle United, Cort helped the home side to a two-goal lead in the first quarter of the game. The 28-year-old broke the deadlock on 16 minutes, tapping in Lee Naylor's low cross, and two minutes later it was 2-0. Cort was provider this time, teeing up Seyi George Olofinjana who shot low past Thomas Sørensen.

But for Nolberto Solano’s goalline clearance from Joel Lescott it could have been three on 28 minutes and that looked like being a key turning point when Kevin Phillips scored, heading in a Solano cross after good work by Gareth Barry. The former Southampton striker and Juan Pablo Angel both had opportunities to equalise but it was Wolves, and particularly Cort, who finished stronger, the forward denied a hat-trick by the width of the crossbar.

The result follows successive draws against lower-league Swedish sides and as average as Cort was at Wimbledon, Villa should question how they were defeated by a man whose biggest contribution at St James’ was the following anecdote:

Reporter to Shola Ameobi: 'Do you have a nickname?'

Ameobi: 'No, not really'

Reporter: 'So what does Bobby Robson call you?'

Ameobi: 'Carl Cort.’

Funny; but Villa’s pre-season form is not.

Pre-season Results:
18 July: 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers
21 July: 14-0 Gällstad FK
23 July: 1-1 Jönköping Södra IF (3rd div.)
26 July: 3-3 GAIS (2nd div.)

30 July: 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers