Wolves vs Southampton: A tactical analysis of an intense draw

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese head coach Nuno Espirito Santo (L) and Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (R) embrace after the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on November 23, 2020. - The game finished 1-1. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese head coach Nuno Espirito Santo (L) and Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (R) embrace after the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on November 23, 2020. - The game finished 1-1. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
4 of 6
Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton (Photo by Andrew Boyers – Pool/Getty Images)
Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton (Photo by Andrew Boyers – Pool/Getty Images)

Wolves system changes test Saints

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo had never used a back four whilst in charge of the club before facing Saints – 166 games previously where he had used a back five/three.

His change to a 4-3-3 on Monday evening was mostly due to having regular defenders Romain Saiss and Conor Coady unavailable but would still have surprised Saints.

Ralph Hasenhuttl and his players coped with this well and controlled most of the first-half, but another late change of formation swung the game in Wolves’ favour.

Espirito Santo matched Saints up in a 4-4-2-type shape and attacked. It worked almost instantly as substitute Pedro Neto equalised and gave the late momentum to the hosts.

Saints defended well in the latter stages though and were well worth their point in what was a highly competitive game.