Southampton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers. Premier League.
St. Mary's StadiumAttendance31,152.
Report and highlights as Wolves recover from 2-0 down to end five-match winless run
Saturday 18 January 2020 19:08, UK
Wolves staged a thrilling second-half fightback to come from 2-0 down and beat in-form Southampton 3-2 at St Mary's.
Saints looked to be heading for a fifth win from their last six Premier League matches as goals from Jan Bednarek (15) and Shane Long (35) put them in control.
But Pedro Neto started Wolves' comeback when he fired home from inside the box in the 53rd minute.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) then overturned a refereeing decision in order to give Wolves a penalty which Raul Jimenez converted, before the striker netted the winner in the 76th minute.
The final whistle was greeted with a roar of delight from Nuno Espirito Santo, whose Wolves side were winless in their last five games but have now taken 18 points from losing positions this season.
Wolves' chances of victory appeared slim in the first half as they were outplayed and conceded the first goal for the seventh Premier League game in a row.
Southampton took the lead with their first meaningful attack as James Ward-Prowse's free-kick bounced through the box and Bednarek produced a fine finish into the far corner from 15 yards out.
Wolves did go close to equalising as Jimenez scuffed a close-range shot and then volleyed wide from a good position.
But it was Southampton who struck next as Long produced a fine header from Cedric Soares' cross.
It was nearly 3-0 shortly after the break as Long headed against the base of the post, but a minute later Wolves hit back as Neto finished across goal after chesting down in the box.
The goal shifted momentum in Wolves' favour and they equalised after a penalty awarded by VAR.
Referee Darren England, overseeing his first Premier League game, did not point to the spot when Jack Stephens and Soares sandwiched Jonny, but after a VAR check the decision was overturned and Jimenez coolly converted.
Nathan Redmond went close to scoring next with a superb effort from outside the box that struck the bar.
However, that was a rare chance for Saints in the second half and it was Wolves who won it when Adama Traore raced away down the right and crossed for Jimenez to score.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl: "It's absolutely not a clear wrong decision [for the penalty]. I thought the referee was right. Cedric was in front of him and I don't know why it was overruled, I can't understand it. You can give it yes, but it is not a clear wrong decision and I heard VAR is only overruling clearly wrong decisions.
"If you are 2-0 up and then get the equaliser from a VAR decision it is mentally not so easy for us. The rest of the game we had big problems to fight back, it was maybe the crucial moment in the game."
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo: "The players were amazing in the second half. They realised the first half was not good and they reacted. I am very proud of the players, even in the first half because I am very aware of how we are doing things.
"It was a tough week for us...We have the transfer window and we have to re-balance again."
The striker, who hadn't scored in his previous five games, looked a bit out of form in the first half as he missed a presentable chance from close range. However, he was at the heart of Wolves' brilliant comeback.
Not only did he grab two goals - the second a clinical first-time finish - but he also linked up play well and was a handful for the Southampton defence.
He now holds the record for most Premier League goals scored by a Wolves player (23).
Southampton travel to Crystal Palace on Tuesday (7.30pm) and then host Tottenham in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday (3pm).
Wolves host Liverpool on Thursday (8pm) before a trip to Manchester United on February 1 (5.30pm, live on Sky Sports).
