Southampton 2-3 Wolves: Saints back down to earth after Wolves comeback

Southampton were given a reality check on Saturday after three second-half goals from Wolves condemned them to a 3-2 defeat.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side held a 2-0 lead at half-time thanks to well-taken goals from Jan Bednarek and Shane Long and looked well set for a third league win on the spin.

However, Wolves fought back strongly in the second period and claimed the three points after a strike from Pedro Neto and a brace from striker Raul Jimenez.

Saints took the lead after 15 minutes as James Ward-Prowse lined up a free-kick delivery on the right.

The ball came into an area that Wolves would have been looking to shut off and found its way to Jan Bednarek at the back post, and the defender hooked into the far corner expertly for his second goal for the club.

It was an open game from the start and after further chances for Cedric and Stuart Armstrong had been saved by Rui Patricio, Saints got their second with a nicely worked move.

Cedric was played in down the right and produced a fine cross in to the area to where Shane Long was waiting, and the Irishman directed his header perfectly into the far corner for his first goal of the season.

Going in with a comfortable lead at the break and being good value for their advantage, Saints would have been wanting to press on after half-time to secure another win. However, that’s not how things panned out.

Shane Long did hit the post with a towering header but eight minutes after the break, Pedro Neto halved Wolves’ deficit by swivelling and turning home in the area and Nuno Espirito Santo’s men clearly had the three points in their sights.

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Adama Traore was pushed up alongside Raul Jimenez to provide a two-on-two against Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek, and this continued to pay dividends as the half went on.

Their equalised came as Jonny Otto was brought down in the box by a combination of Stephens and Cedric, leaving VAR with no decision but to award a penalty. Raul Jimenez coolly slotted the resulting spot-kick home with ease.

Saints were now helpless to stop the dangerous counter-attacks from Wolves, but almost regained the lead when Nathan Redmond cut in from the left and clipped the top of the bar with a great strike from distance.

A draw would have been a fair result given that both sides had good, sustained spells of pressure in the match. Inevitably though, Wolves broke forward again to snatch the winner 14 minutes from time.

Traore was the architect as he seized on a lofted ball forward from Jimenez and composed himself to return a pass back for the Mexican to finish clinically – a comeback that was superbly brought about by the visitors but not dealt with well by Saints.

Ralph Hasenhuttl and his men must now lift themselves ready for Tuesday night and an important meeting with Crystal Palace.

Saints team

McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong (Djenepo 71), Redmond (Boufal 78), Ings, Long (Adams 71)

Subs not used: Gunn, Vestergaard, Romeu, Obafemi

Wolves team

Patricio, Doherty, Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss, Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Neto (Kilman 86), Traore, Jimenez

Subs not used: Ruddy, Buur, Jordao, Giles, Gibbs-White, Ashley-Seal