Ten-men Wolves turned the game on its head against Southampton as the men in gold and black came from behind to secure a second successive Premier League win.
After falling behind midway through the first-half, Wolves’ task was made even more difficult when Mario Lemina picked up a second yellow just minutes later. But in the final 20 minutes, Wolves’ pressure paid as Adama Traore forced an own goal to turn the game in the visitors’ favour, before debutant Joao Gomes hammered the ball home in the dying minutes of the tie to send the Wolves supporters into raptures.
Following the highs of beating Liverpool at Molineux, Wolves suffered the lows of Premier League football in the first-half at St Mary’s Stadium just seven days later, as Julen Lopetegui’s men fell a goal and man behind in the opening 45 minutes of their meeting with the Saints.
The visitors began the game on the front foot as they looked to replicate their opening from a week previously, with Ruben Neves coming close with a shot from the edge of the box which was deflected away from danger.
Wolves were finding success down the Southampton left in the early stages as Nelson Semedo twice was played behind the defence but on both occasions his cross into the box was comfortably cleared.
But the hosts gained a foothold on the game as the half wore on, with Jan Bednarek having two headers which ended up going over the crossbar, while the defender also saw a shot deflect behind off Maximilian Kilman.
That last effort came after the Saints had opened the scoring midway through the half. A free-kick into the Wolves box was headed away, but found its way back to Carlos Alcaraz on the edge of the area, and after his initial shot was blocked, he was quickest to the rebound and fired a low drive beyond the reach of Jose Sa.
Just a few minutes later, it went from bad to worse for Lopetegui’s men as Lemina, making his first return to Southampton having left the club 18 months ago, was dismissed for a second yellow card.
Referee Jarred Gillett was making a name for himself throughout the first-half with every challenge being greeted with a booking, as Wolves’ full-backs Rayan Ait-Nouri and Nelson Semedo joining James Ward-Prowse and Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the book.
With 10-men, the hosts tried to get back into the tie before the half-time whistle, with Matheus Cunha coming closest having been played down the right, but he was unable to direct his effort on target.
Half-time | Southampton 1-0 Wolves
Lopetegui made a pair of changes at the break in an attempt to turn the game in his favour, with Traore and Bueno replacing Joao Moutinho and Semedo, and that decision proved to be the difference.
Although Wolves were fortunate not to find themselves fall two behind just 10 minutes into the half as two misplaced passes by Maximilian Kilman were almost capitalised on by Kamaladeen Sulemana, who found himself one-on-one with Sa, but the keeper saved his defender’s blushes with an outstanding dive to punch the ball out of Sulemana’s feet as he looked to shoot.
But Wolves grew stronger and stronger throughout the second-half. Diego Costa appeared midway through and the striker and Traore linked up well to create opportunities for the visitors, although Southampton were holding strong.
However, with just under 20 minutes remaining, Costa’s effort was blocked and Traore was there to somehow bundle the ball over the goalline via Bednarek after his shot took multiple touches off the Southampton defender before finding its way in.
Just minutes before Wolves’ goal, the supporters got their first glimpse of new signing Gomes as he replaced Matheus Nunes, and they were more than happy with what they saw after the Brazilian snatched a late winner.
The midfielder was found in space just outside the Saints penalty area and after his initial shot was blocked, he was first to the rebound and fired his shot into the top corner of the net, giving Gavin Bazunu no chance in the Southampton goal.
With the 10 men fighting for the three points, Wolves were able to hold on and secure successive Premier League wins for the first time this season, and a fifth Premier League win in a row against Southampton.
Full-time | Southampton 1-2 Wolves
Southampton | Bazunu, Bree (Edozie 80), Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud (Lyanco 74), Alcaraz (Aribo 79), Lavia (S. Armstrong 89), Maitland-Niles, Ward-Prowse, Sulemana, Onuachu (Adams 74).
Unused subs | Caballero, Mara, Walcott, A. Armstrong.
Wolves | Sa, Semedo (Jonny 84), Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri (Bueno 46), Neves, Lemina, Nunes (J. Gomes 70), Moutinho (A. Traore 46), Sarabia, Cunha (Costa 59).
Unused subs | Bentley, Collins, Neto, Jimenez.
Referee | Jarred Gillett
