Rob Edwards is not given to losing his cool. Going berserk is not usually in the Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach’s playbook.
So when he runs towards the South Bank at Molineux, snarling in delight and pumping his fists uncontrollably in the direction of supporters, it is a sure sign that what has just happened means something.
So, too, when he sprints 50 yards down a sopping-wet touchline and raises both hands in triumph towards family and friends in a box up in the Billy Wright Stand.
Molineux was a picture of joy on Friday night. And in a season when such occasions have been in desperately short supply, Wolves fans will be forgiven for following their head coach’s lead and drinking in every second of it.
“At the end that was incredible,” Edwards said in his post-match press conference. “It was a special moment in a really difficult season. It’s nice to be able to show some emotion and build that connection that we’re desperate to do.
“That’s why I came here; for nights like that, really special moments. That’s a moment that will live with me forever.”
The Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa celebrates a rare victory (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Victory over Aston Villa in a noisy, soggy West Midlands derby meant something statistically. The three points Edwards’ side collected took them past Derby County’s record low Premier League points total — 11 — from 2008.
Wolves can no longer become known as the worst team in the competition’s history.
If that sounds like a very small victory, that is because it is. No club embarks on a campaign thinking that simply avoiding complete humiliation would represent some kind of success.
But that is where Wolves are, and the fact they have avoided a slice of historic ignominy will be celebrated quietly in Wolverhampton.
Yet Edwards’ wild celebrations, both when Rodrigo Gomes netted his side’s match-clinching second goal and again during the post-match scenes, were about more than simply avoiding an unwanted record.
For the head coach, it was about strengthening a connection with supporters which he hopes will propel them into a Championship promotion campaign next season, and which has been threatened in recent weeks by an absence of positive results.
Edwards is no one’s fool and he knows all too well that, while Wolves’ plan is for him to lead them into next season, he needs some wins to convince fans that is a viable proposition.
So when a hand from Jose Sa and a hooked clearance off the line by Yerson Mosquera denied Amadou Onana a late Villa equaliser, Edwards celebrated in his technical area like his team had scored a goal.
Wolves showed plenty of fight against their West Midlands rivals (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
When they did score a goal in stoppage time, with substitute Rodrigo Gomes firing home after a Wolves break, Edwards took off down the touchline like he was back in his playing days.
“I nearly pulled my calf and put my foot through a hoarding as well, I think,” he joked.
“Again, it was just a great moment, obviously at that late stage to get the second goal, it felt like the result was pretty much in the bag.”
Then after the final whistle, as Wolves’ players celebrated in front of the South Bank and shared a rare moment of happiness with supporters, Edwards abandoned all notion of self control and simply went with the moment in scenes that spilled into the dressing room.
Enjoy. These. Moments. pic.twitter.com/3HAUyTGhMB
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 27, 2026
“There was a lot of emotion — I lost myself for a while,” he admitted. “I forgot where I was and who was watching.
“My daughters were probably up there looking at me thinking: ‘What are you doing, Dad? Just calm down.’ But football can do that to you.
“And again I know it’s been a really difficult season, but if you can’t enjoy those moments in a really big game against a brilliant team, then you shouldn’t be in the game, so I think it’s alright that we all enjoy it.”
The moment of joy might not last long. Wolves remain bottom of the Premier League table with relegation to the Championship after eight seasons set to be confirmed mathematically in the next few weeks.
In all likelihood they will finish in 20th spot, with 19th-placed Burnley six points ahead with two games in hand.
But at least any fears of becoming historically terrible have now passed, with Edwards now having collected 11 points from his 18 league games in charge, having inherited a side with two points from 11.
The improvements have been marginal but clear despite the strategic decision to weaken the squad in January with the summer transfer window in mind.
Wolves restored some pride against Villa (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
“It (beating Derby’s tally) does mean something,” added Edwards. “It’s not something I’ve been focusing on, but I’ve been aware of it, of course, and I know it will mean a lot to the supporters.
“You don’t want that tag. No one wants that. But it’s not something that’s been weighing me down or I’ve been thinking about too much.”
Now, Wolves’ season is all about the FA Cup, with a big night to come in the last 16 next Friday against Liverpool at Molineux, just three days after the Merseyside club visit them in the Premier League.
If they can recreate the vibes from last night, then they will give themselves a chance of conjuring another special occasion under the lights.
But for now, in a season when misery has been the default setting, Wolves supporters can take a moment to revel in this one. Rob Edwards certainly will.