Despite the driving rain, it was a fast start for Villa, who were looking for just a second win in nine league visits to Molineux.
They had numerous half-chances, best of which involved Douglas Luiz volleying at Jose Sa, while Toti Gomes hit wide at the other end.
Morgan Rogers also tested the Wolves goalkeeper, but things got considerably scrappier towards the end of the half, when the hosts headed into the dressing rooms having failed to score for the ninth consecutive PL outing.
The hosts were much improved after the break, though, and they took advantage of a complacent Villa to take an unlikely lead on the hour mark.
Adam Armstrong tried to control a cross from Jackson Tchatchoua, but instead touched it into the path of an arriving Joao Gomes for the Brazilian to thunder his shot in off the underside of the bar.
Villa predictably seized back control after that, and Ian Maatsen was close to levelling things when he powered straight at Sa from just a few yards out.
But the hosts worked incredibly hard to protect their lead and didn’t stop trying to increase it, even after Tammy Abraham had his shot cleared off the line by Yerson Mosquera in the dying seconds.
With virtually the last kick of the game, Wolves broke up the field, leading to Rodrigo Gomes finding the net on the turn from the centre of the area.
The result cuts Wolves’ gap to safety to 14 points, but any chances of staying up remain particularly remote considering all of their rivals have two games in hand.
Villa, meanwhile, could relinquish third position this weekend, and will be under serious pressure when they face pursuing sides Manchester United and Chelsea in the coming weeks.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Joao Gomes (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
